The body discovered in a Lawrence Township canal has been confirmed as that of Martha Runyon who had been missing since Monday.

Police along the D+R Canal
Police along the D+R Canal (Brian McCarthy)
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The Mercer County Prosecutor's Office says Runyon's body was discovered partially submerged an embankment along the Delaware Raritan Canal by a woman walking her dog on Thursday morning near Litho Road on the Lawrence/Hamilton border off Route 1.

A backpack partially filled with bricks was discovered near her body; her death has been ruled a suicide. Positive identification was made using dental records.

Lawrence Police and the New Jersey State Police have been looking for Runyon, 60, since Monday when her husband John reported her as missing. The Prosecutor's Office said she had no medical issues but would not offer a motive for her death.

The search had focused on the area around her Rosetree Lane neighborhood. Her body was found less than a mile from her home.

John Runyon told Newsworks before Thursday's discoverythat his wife has had to deal with a series of stressful events in her life. Her mother passed away in June and their daughter moved out of the house a few weeks later.  She didn't want her to leave." It's something Mr. Runyon said might have "[thrown] more wood on the fire".

Pictures and video courtesy Brian McCarthy On Scene News

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