Found Deceased MA - Sinead Lyons, 41, Lowell, traveling to Ossipee/Effingham, NH area, 11 Mar 2021

[PommyMommy]

There was 3 news media reports of her last “being seen” in Lowell walking the dog, yet another of her being seen walking Lake Ossipee.
If she did drive the car there with or without the dog. There’s a good chance she was meeting someone she knows and got in their car and left. But it’s possible she didn’t drive the car there, if the newspaper’s are correct in that she was last seen in Lowell?
In this morning’s Lowell newspaper - Lowellsun.com. There’s an article where another woman is missing. It may be unrelated? But the car was found in the Merrimac river. So with both missing women it involves water, a car, both female, and both from the same city?

Welcome to Websleuths, Salisbury.

There is often conflicting and/or confusing information reported and it can be frustrating. However, in this case we have a direct quote from a State Police Lt. and that is what I'm going with until LE says otherwise. MOO

MAR 18, 2021
Search for missing Mass. woman continues | Local News | conwaydailysun.com
[...]

New Hampshire State Police say Sinead Lyons, 41, was last seen walking by shore of Ossipee Lake on Friday and that her car, a white 2005 Volvo V70 station wagon bearing Massachusetts plate 926TN7 was found by Ossipee Police in Constitution Park on Monday. Constitution Park is near the lake.

"We are following the evidence and what we know is that she was last seen by credible witnesses on Ossipee Lake," said State Police Lt. Jim Fogarty in an email Thursday adding they don't need public search parties right now. "NH State Police, Carroll County Sheriff’s Office and the NH Fish and Game are actively searching at this time."

WMUR reported that state police said she was last seen March 12 with her dog on the shore of the lake.

[...]

 

[Inthedetails]

Welcome to Websleuths, Salisbury.

There is often conflicting and/or confusing information reported and it can be frustrating. However, in this case we have a direct quote from a State Police Lt. and that is what I'm going with until LE says otherwise. MOO

MAR 18, 2021
Search for missing Mass. woman continues | Local News | conwaydailysun.com
[...]

New Hampshire State Police say Sinead Lyons, 41, was last seen walking by shore of Ossipee Lake on Friday and that her car, a white 2005 Volvo V70 station wagon bearing Massachusetts plate 926TN7 was found by Ossipee Police in Constitution Park on Monday. Constitution Park is near the lake.

"We are following the evidence and what we know is that she was last seen by credible witnesses on Ossipee Lake," said State Police Lt. Jim Fogarty in an email Thursday adding they don't need public search parties right now. "NH State Police, Carroll County Sheriff’s Office and the NH Fish and Game are actively searching at this time."

WMUR reported that state police said she was last seen March 12 with her dog on the shore of the lake.

[...]

Sinead was a rather tall woman, has the air of confidence. She is the type who would stand out, imo. She dresses well, with style. She even had flowers in her hair. Tall black boots. That can be an attractive while also giving off the vibe of a woman in control of herself, aware. Plus she had a dog with her, a dog who didn't like men. There is little about her that seems vulnerable.

I don't think anyone attacked her.

I also don't think she met up with anyone after picking up her dog who doesn't like men.

Sinead was last seen on the shore of a lake. I think she's in the lake, very sorry to say.

Of course, I would be wrong.

jmo

 

[Beekarina]

This is the first I have heard of her living with the boyfriend in Lowell. Perhaps he had a vacation or 2nd home in NH?

Lots of confusing and conflicting info.

FWIW, you do not need to be small and vulnerable to be a target. I agree her dog would make it much less likely. She is a bit taller than average, but she doesn't look particularly intimidating to me. I don't think she was grabbed by a random person though, although anything is possible. I think she left with someone she knows. Voluntarily, and then maybe not? Or maybe she had reasons to leave on her own for awhile. It wouldn't have to be with a man. She could have left with another woman, or on her own. But if she lives with her boyfriend normally, then it may be that Flossie is fearful of men she doesn't know, rather than she doesn't like men? That might have been put out there more as a warning to the public. I also read that Flossie might bite if approached the wrong way.

Sinead could be in the lake too. I just lean more towards her leaving. All opinion/speculation, obviously. Always think a bit more about this kind of case when it's nearby.

 

[OldCop]

While I think it’s very possible that Sinead fell through the ice, I have a couple of questions.
What was the snowpack in that area on that date?
Was there snow on the ice? (Sometimes it’s hard to tell where the shoreline ends and the ice begins.)
If there is snow on the ice there should have been both footprints and dog prints.
If they fell through the ice, that should leave an obvious hole.
Perhaps, the dog ran onto the ice. She followed and fell through but the dog kept running. Hopefully they are checking area pounds and missing/found pet pages in the area.
Attaching a couple of photos for reference.
-The trail map posted earlier by @Alethea
-A closeup of Constitution Park area
-A wide angle view showing the size of the lake and Rte 16, a very busy roadway that goes to No Conway
I would have more suspicions about the person, (dog sitter? boyfriend?), if there had not been a report that she was seen walking with her dog along the shore of the lake.
Do we know how far that person lives from the lake?
Wouldn’t you take your dog for a quick walk before putting him the car for the ride back to Lowell? Seems a little convenient that Sinead said to this person that she was going to google trails in the area. MOO

 

[SpanishMossAntiques]

While I think it’s very possible that Sinead fell through the ice, I have a couple of questions.
What was the snowpack in that area on that date?
Was there snow on the ice? (Sometimes it’s hard to tell where the shoreline ends and the ice begins.)
If there is snow on the ice there should have been both footprints and dog prints.
If they fell through the ice, that should leave an obvious hole.
Perhaps, the dog ran onto the ice. She followed and fell through but the dog kept running. Hopefully they are checking area pounds and missing/found pet pages in the area.
Attaching a couple of photos for reference.
-The trail map posted earlier by @Alethea
-A closeup of Constitution Park area
-A wide angle view showing the size of the lake and Rte 16, a very busy roadway that goes to No Conway
I would have more suspicions about the person, (dog sitter? boyfriend?), if there had not been a report that she was seen walking with her dog along the shore of the lake.
Do we know how far that person lives from the lake?
Wouldn’t you take your dog for a quick walk before putting him the car for the ride back to Lowell? Seems a little convenient that Sinead said to this person that she was going to google trails in the area. MOO

Falling through ice does not always leave an obvious hole- as you can see by my profile pic I worked as a LE Park Ranger, and I rescued a number of people off frozen lakes.

If the ice is less than 5" thick you do indeed rick it cracking under you. If there are underwater springs that feed the lake (or you're on a frozen river) where there is moving water you have to be very, very careful as the ice could look normal but it would be easy to just fall right through it since the underside is not frozen.

If you fall through the cracked ice quickly fills in that space - it would only remain open, or somewhat open, if the temps were a bit warmer. Otherwise it can easily freeze over. One lake gave up the body after it being submerged for a year - the victim had fallen through the ice and we searched it thoroughly when it happened but couldn't find her. Where the water was shallow it was common for us to find deer that fell through the ice and wound up being frozen in place when the water solidified around its legs.

Personally, I hated having to go on the ice to safely escort or rescue someone from it... I was always, always nervous, and I had all the required equipment to survive going through. Stay off the ice guys unless you know it's 5" thick.

 

[PommyMommy]

While I think it’s very possible that Sinead fell through the ice, I have a couple of questions.
What was the snowpack in that area on that date?
Was there snow on the ice? (Sometimes it’s hard to tell where the shoreline ends and the ice begins.)
If there is snow on the ice there should have been both footprints and dog prints.
If they fell through the ice, that should leave an obvious hole.
Perhaps, the dog ran onto the ice. She followed and fell through but the dog kept running. Hopefully they are checking area pounds and missing/found pet pages in the area.
Attaching a couple of photos for reference.
-The trail map posted earlier by @Alethea
-A closeup of Constitution Park area
-A wide angle view showing the size of the lake and Rte 16, a very busy roadway that goes to No Conway
I would have more suspicions about the person, (dog sitter? boyfriend?), if there had not been a report that she was seen walking with her dog along the shore of the lake.
Do we know how far that person lives from the lake?
Wouldn’t you take your dog for a quick walk before putting him the car for the ride back to Lowell? Seems a little convenient that Sinead said to this person that she was going to google trails in the area. MOO

This video from March 17 shows what the area looked like while LE was searching, 5 days after Sinead was last seen.

 

[Salisbury]

PommyMommy, thanks for the article from the Conway Daily Sun. I had completely missed this with the other news articles I had read online. Apparently Lt. Fogarty of the NH State Police has confirmed she was spotted by witnesses walking.

 

[Beekarina]

Just curious where the info about flowers in her hair and a dress is coming from? The NH State police description is a white coat, white knit hat and black knee high boots.

I'm asking because if a tall woman with flowers in her hair was seen walking a German Shepherd, that might have been someone else.

 

[Beekarina]

Are we allowed to share what people who live on the lake have posted about the ice conditions on the NH State Police Facebook page post about Sinead? There is a side discussion where dogs were mentioned. Or would that be against TOS? Thanks!

 

[jenpil]

Are we allowed to share what people who live on the lake have posted about the ice conditions on the NH State Police Facebook. Or would that be against TOS? Thanks!

Well, if it's talking about the lake conditions then I can't see why it's against TOS.

 

[carbuff]

The various articles make me wonder whether there's some difference of opinion between NH and Lowell LE about the timeline and sightings.

 

[Spider92]

Just curious where the info about flowers in her hair and a dress is coming from? The NH State police description is a white coat, white knit hat and black knee high boots.

I'm asking because if a tall woman with flowers in her hair was seen walking a German Shepherd, that might have been someone else.

Are you suggesting that there were two women at the lake that day that each had German Sheperds?

 

[Salisbury]

It’s highly possible that two women were on the lake that day walking dogs. And that a dog breed could have been misidentified.

 

[jenpil]

Are you suggesting that there were two women at the lake that day that each had German Sheperds?

I wonder what were the chances of that?! Sounds like way too much of a coincidence!

 

[Janeumayer]

This is the first I have heard of her living with the boyfriend in Lowell. Perhaps he had a vacation or 2nd home in NH?

Lots of confusing and conflicting info.

FWIW, you do not need to be small and vulnerable to be a target. I agree her dog would make it much less likely. She is a bit taller than average, but she doesn't look particularly intimidating to me. I don't think she was grabbed by a random person though, although anything is possible. I think she left with someone she knows. Voluntarily, and then maybe not? Or maybe she had reasons to leave on her own for awhile. It wouldn't have to be with a man. She could have left with another woman, or on her own. But if she lives with her boyfriend normally, then it may be that Flossie is fearful of men she doesn't know, rather than she doesn't like men? That might have been put out there more as a warning to the public. I also read that Flossie might bite if approached the wrong way.

Sinead could be in the lake too. I just lean more towards her leaving. All opinion/speculation, obviously. Always think a bit more about this kind of case when it's nearby.

I wonder if maybe she has an ex-boyfriend she shared custody of Flossie with? Plus, also has a current boyfriend? That could explain picking up Flossie from “the guy” plus going back to Lowell where she currently lives with her boyfriend? Just my 2 cents! MOO

PS Having an ex-boyfriend would make things interesting...

 

[Knox]

Are we allowed to share what people who live on the lake have posted about the ice conditions on the NH State Police Facebook page post about Sinead? There is a side discussion where dogs were mentioned. Or would that be against TOS? Thanks!

You can post a link to the facebook page and say "interesting comments at link about the ice conditions". LE Facebook page links are always allowed, you just can't copy & paste comments unless it is from the page administrator. Hope that helps-

 

[PommyMommy]

MAR 22, 2021
Sinead Lyons: Cops search for missing Irish woman in MA, NH (irishcentral.com)
[...]

On Facebook, Sinéad's sister SL has mounted an appeal for any information regarding the whereabouts of her older sister.

[...]

"Sinéad left Lowell and travelled to collect Flossie from a friend in the NH [New Hampshire] area.

"She was going to go for a walk with Flossie before heading back home to Lowell.

[...]

Addressing her sister, SL said "our relatives finally made it through all of the red tape that stopped them from traveling to you from Ireland. They are there now, they will find you!"

She added: "Please keep looking for Sinéad & Flossie, please keep checking your land, sheds & cameras.

[...]

 

[PommyMommy]

MAR 22, 2021
What Happened to Sinead Lyons? Woman Vanishes While Walking Her Dog in New Hampshire | Inside Edition
[...]

Lyons and her dog, Flossie, were last seen on or about March 11, near the shores of Lake Ossipee in New Hampshire. On the evening of March 15, police found Lyons' vehicle, a 2005 white Volvo, in a parking lot near the lake, the New Hampshire State Police said in a release.

[...]

Fogarty [NH State Police Lt.] said he had evidence to believe Lyons had been in the Ossipee area and may have gone on a hiking trip with her dog. He also told the WMUR-9News that they are treating the investigation as a missing persons case and have no reason to suspect foul play.

[...]

Anyone with information is asked to call the Lowell Police Department 978-937-3200

 

[Beekarina]

Are you suggesting that there were two women at the lake that day that each had German Sheperds?

I'm saying it is possible. German Shepherds are a common breed, and it was one of the first really nice days, so I'm guessing a lot of people were out walking dogs.

Now if the sighting was very specific to reporting hearing a woman giving her dog commands in Irish, then no, of course not.



.

 

[Beekarina]

Ok, since it seems within TOS, there are a lot of interesting comments on the NH State Police Facebook post about Sinead with regards to ice conditions, people volunteering to assist, and areas bordering the park in one direction that are a bit more "wild" than the park itself.