American scientist Suzanne Eaton is seen in a photo provided by the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, where she worked. Eaton's body was found in Greece on July 8, about a week after she was reported missing while attending a conference on the island of Crete. Handout

Authorities on the Greek island of Crete have found the body of an American scientist who disappeared last week while attending a conference on the island. Greek news outlets reported on Tuesday that police had discovered the body of Suzanne Eaton in a cave in Chania, Crete, about six miles from where she was last seen.

Eaton, a 59-year-old molecular biologist at the Max Planck Institute in Dresden, Germany, was reported missing a week ago near the port of Chania. Colleagues at the conference told authorities they believed she had gone for a run in the area on July 2. A public notice of her disappearance was posted in Greece.

The Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics confirmed the news on Tuesday in a written statement.

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"The police recovered her body during the evening of 8th July. The authorities have not yet completed their investigation regarding the events that may have transpired on Tuesday afternoon, 2nd July, and we will provide further updates as we receive information," the institute said. "Suzanne was an outstanding and inspiring scientist, a loving spouse and mother, an athlete as well as a truly wonderful person beloved to us all. Her loss is unbearable. Our thoughts and prayers are with her husband Tony, her sons Max and Luke, and with all her family."

Local police in Chania confirmed to CBS News that they had found the body of a woman of the same age as Eaton, but they were still waiting for family members to confirm the identity.

Police and firefighters, joined by local volunteers, conducted a wide searched for days across the surrounding area. Emily Kappes, a cousin of the missing scientist, told The Associated Press that Eaton's husband and two sons had traveled to Crete to assist in the search.