After Nearly a Year, Joanne Ringer’s Body Has Been Found

The human remains discovered in Hatfield on Tuesday have been identified as those of Joanne Ringer, who went missing almost a year ago.

Her husband, Charles "Chad" Reidy, was the sole suspect in her disappearance. He killed himself and was found dead in their garage on April 7.

Ringer's body was found in a remote wooded area of Hatfield on Tuesday evening and removed the next day.

A positive identification from Ringer's dental records was made by Kathleen Crowley, a forensic odontologist at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Boston.

Crowley was assisted by Dr. James Pokines, a forensic anthropologist, also assigned to the Boston Office of the Medical Examiner.

Ringer's body was positively identified late Thursday afternoon and the media notified last night.

Iberkshires.com reports that Berkshire District Attorney David Capeless said,

"From the beginning, we have suspected foul play and have approached this as a homicide investigation and we have considered Joanne's husband, Chad Reidy, as the sole suspect."

However, Laura J. Reilly, 42, of Berkeley Street, Easthampton, described as Reidy's former girlfriend, was arraigned last April on three counts of misleading investigators, an obstruction of justice, in providing erroneous information during the investigation of Ringer's disappearance. Ringer's car had been found less than a half-mile from Reilly's address.

The Berkshire Eagle Reports that Ringer's close friend, Ginger Plantier, said Thursday evening on behalf of her family:

"We have made the collective decision not to comment until the vigil and memorial on Sunday, We just need more time to process everything that's happened in the last 24 hours. We knew the press release was coming out at 7:30."

A vigil and memorial service will be held Sunday to mark the one-year anniversary since her disappearance. The event is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the American Legion Post 344 on Prospect Street in Hatfield and had been planned before Ringer's remains were found.