Missing Warren County woman, pet, friend found dead in neighborhood pond

Warren County Sheriff’s deputies continue the investigation into the deaths of Nancy Borders Forest, Jane Angela Whitney and Forest’s pet dog, whose bodies were discovered in a county pond early Tuesday morning. / Royal Examiner file photo

A Warren County woman who was reported missing by her spouse Monday evening (Feb.4) has been found dead, along with her dog and a female friend.

A media release from the Warren County Sheriff’s Office Tuesday evening states that on Monday, Feb. 4, 2019, at approximately 7:25 PM, their office received a report that Nancy Borders Forest, 74, of 97 Boulder Rd. in Front Royal, was reported missing by her spouse.

Forest was last seen by her spouse around 2:00 p.m. at their home, according to the release. Forest reportedly left the home in her vehicle, accompanied by one of her dogs, en route to the dog groomer, to pick up another dog that was being serviced. It was determined that Forest never arrived at the groomer, according to the media release.

Officials contacted Winchester Medical Center, Warren Memorial Hospital and the Winchester Emergency Veterinary Clinic to determine if Forest had made contact with any of the entities; it was verified that she had not contacted any of them.

During the course of the investigation, Forest’s vehicle was located at 1451 Whitney Lane, which is the residence of Jane Angela Whitney, a friend of Ms. Forest’s. Whitney and Forest were not at the home.

Deputies searched the neighborhood surrounding Whitney Lane, in an attempt to locate the two women. At approximately 12:15 AM on Tuesday morning, Forest, Whitney, and the dog were discovered in a partially ice-covered pond on the property.

With assistance from the Warren County Department of Fire and Rescue, the bodies of the women and the dog were removed from the pond. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will perform autopsies on the two women; it is not known if a necropsy will be performed on the dog.

The incident continues to be investigated;  anyone with information regarding the events leading up to the deaths of the two women and the dog is asked to contact Lt. Phillip Henry at 540-635-7100 or ltphenry@warrencountysheriff.org.