grim, but....
Former Kennedy Relative Found Dead

VERO BEACH, Fla. (AP) - The body of a local socialite once related by marriage to the Kennedy family was found in a sunken car, authorities said.

Police do not suspect foul play in the death of 65-year-old Hope Sheridan, who was last seen March 8. Family members in Windham, N.Y., reported her missing on March 11.

Sheridan is the ex-mother-in-law of Michael Skakel, a cousin of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Skakel, 42, is serving 20 years to life in prison for the beating death of his Greenwich, Conn., neighbor, Martha Moxley, in 1975.

Divers found Sheridan's car Monday afternoon after a sheriff's helicopter noted two faint parallel marks at the end of a retention pond.

The car was submerged in about 15 feet of water 75 feet from shore. Sheridan's body was found on the passenger side, Detective Keith Harmon said. He said there were no skid marks on the grassy area going into the water.

``It appears from the preliminary findings that this was an accidental death,'' said Indian River County sheriff's spokesman Joe Flescher said.

Investigators were awaiting the results of a medical examiner's toxicology tests.

03/17/04 04:54

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