Friends and family of Mary Lou Anderson gathered Wednesday night to pray at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Quincy. | Photo/WGEM

Illinois State Police troopers stop southbound traffic Thursday, May 3, 2018, at a roadblock on Rim Road just off State Street. | H-W Photo/Phil Carlson

Posted: May. 3, 2018 9:20 am Updated: May. 3, 2018 11:27 am

Update:

The Illinois State Police says the body of Mary Lou Anderson was located in a wooded area during a search.

Crime scene investigators are on the scene and the investigation continues, a news release sent Thursday morning said.

No further updates will be provided until the investigation is completed, the news release said.

Related Content Missing Quincy woman suffers from depression, may be armed

Initial story:

QUINCY — The Illinois State Police have called off the search for a missing Quincy woman.

In an email Thursday morning, the ISP reported that the search advisory for Mary Lou Anderson, 69, had been canceled. The status of the email indicated that Anderson had been found, but the State Police would not comment on Anderson's condition.

Mary Lou Anderson

She was last seen about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday walking on Rim Road at the intersection of Maas Road, near State Street east of Quincy. She was wearing a white or light gray short-sleeved shirt and dark-colored shorts.

Police say she was possibly armed with a 9MM handgun, suffered from depression and may have been danger to herself.

The Illinois State Police had blocked off both ends of Rim Road on Thursday morning, but would not provide comment. The search for Anderson began about 6 p.m. Tuesday in the area of 928 Rim Road. Planes from the Illinois State Police, along with drones, were involved.

The Herald-Whig's news-gathering partners at WGEM reported that community prayer services have been held at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church. The church was open through the night on Wednesday to serve as a safe place for friends and family to come and pray for Anderson. Mass was held at the church on Thursday morning.

“Mary Lou is just a beautiful person and she's very loved,” family friend JoAnn Witte told WGEM. “We want her back home and back home with her family.”

Motorists are advised to avoid the area of State to Broadway on the east side of Quincy as law enforcement continues the search.

Anderson, a white woman, has brown hair and blue eyes. She is 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighs 135 pounds.

Anyone with information on Anderson is asked to call the Quincy/Adams County 911 Center's nonemergency number, 217-222-9360, or the Illinois State Police Springfield Communications Center nonemergency number, 217-786-6677. If someone sees Anderson, police say do not approach her.

“If you recognize or see something that is out of line or actually you think that is her, contact 911, and we will be there immediately,” said Illinois State Police Sgt. Mike Kindhart.

The Illinois State Police is working with the Adams County Sheriff's Department on the investigation. The Quincy Police Department assisted the search Tuesday evening.