A body recovered from the Guadalupe River in New Braunfels on Tuesday, June 2, has been positively identified as 59-year-old Juliet Elizabeth Watson, a former city leader who had been missing since late May, according to an update from the New Braunfels Police Department.
Watson was reported missing on May 26 from the Lincoln Street area, prompting an extensive search effort across both the Comal River and Guadalupe River corridors. New Braunfels police said the body was discovered June 2 along the banks of the Guadalupe River near the 700 block of Rusk Lane at approximately 6 p.m. during a coordinated search effort involving the New Braunfels Police Department, New Braunfels Fire Department, Texas Search and Rescue, and the New Braunfels Community Emergency Response Team.
According to the New Braunfels Police Department, the Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office has now confirmed Watson’s identity following forensic examination. Next of kin has been notified. Watson previously served two terms on the New Braunfels City Council from 1996 to 2002.
Authorities said the area where Watson was found had been the focus of multiple search operations in the days leading up to the discovery.
“At this time, there is no sign of foul play and the circumstances of her disappearance do not meet the criteria for a Silver Alert or other similar alert,” City Spokesperson David Ferguson previously said to the San Antonio Express News as search efforts continued in the days before the identification. “Efforts were made over the weekend to search the area where she was last seen, which includes portions of the Comal and Guadalupe rivers, with no success.”
While the investigation remains active, officials said there are currently no signs of foul play. A final determination on the cause of death has not yet been made and will be issued by the Medical Examiner’s Office pending toxicology results.