Missing Gary Mom Ariana Taylor: Police say life-size 'silicone doll'- not body - has been found

GARY, Indiana - Gary police said late Sunday that a "body" that had been found not far from where police located the SUV of missing Gary mom Ariana Taylor was actually a "life-sized silicone/rubber type female doll."

That was according to Gary Police Lt. Dawn Westerfield, who had emailed media something quite the opposite earlier said on Sunday: "Upon arrival officers discovered a body; however, no identification is able to be made at this time."

Lake County Coroner David J. Pastrick said in a statement on Sunday night: "On Sunday… the Lake County Coroner’s Office responded to what we were advised of being a death scene. Lake County Dispatch was notified by a Nipsco employee doing work in the area of 15th Ave and Lake St in the city of Gary. The investigation turned out to be a false alarm. The body turned out to be not human and was a lifelike mannequin."

Taylor's family was at the scene at 15th Avenue and Lake Street on Sunday before the situation was confirmed to be a false alarm. 

Taylor has now been missing for more than a week. Family members say she’d gone to have drinks with two friends on April 2. Taylor was last seen leaving a Merrillville, Indiana apartment complex after 1 a.m. on April 3.

Police had found Taylor’s SUV crashed in a wooded area near the I-80/94 Junction in Gary. Her blue jeans and gym shoes were found a short distance away.

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