Body of Missing Woman believed to have been found

Macon County -- Press Release 11/02/21 Macon County Sheriff’s Office Sheriff Robert L. Holland

Today, Detectives with the Macon County Sheriff’s Office assisted by Chief Rholletter & Otto Fire & Rescue, located a deceased female in the Little Tennessee River about a mile downstream from where the abandoned vehicle of a missing person was located on Sunday. While a positive identification will be made later this week following an autopsy, based on photographs of the missing woman we believe the deceased female is the missing Ricki Ortega-Cooney. We are limiting the Information being released at this time as the criminal investigation continues. District Attorney Ashley Hornsby Welch was also on scene along with an agent from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. Death Notification to the family has been made.
On behalf of the MCSO we wish to extend our sincere thoughts and prayers to the family and friends of Mrs. Cooney during this difficult time for those who loved her.
Sheriff Robert L. Holland
If you have any information you are asked to contact the Macon County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division 828-349-2076

Ricki Ortega-Cooney