A late night on one of Wilmington's most-used trail corridors turned deadly Saturday when a 45-year-old woman was found with serious physical injuries on the Northern Delaware Greenway Trail at Alapocas Run State Park and later died. Troopers and officers from the Delaware Department of Natural Resources responded to a report of CPR in progress and tried to save her life until EMS arrived. Authorities say the circumstances are suspicious, and state homicide detectives have now taken over the case.
State Police: Timeline and Investigation
According to Delaware State Police, troopers were called to the Northern Delaware Greenway Trail at Alapocas Run around 10:45 p.m. on May 30. When they arrived, they found the victim, identified as 45-year-old Lori Rogers of Wilmington, suffering from what police described as "obvious physical injuries." Troopers began life-saving efforts that continued until EMS could take over.
Rogers was transported to a nearby hospital, where she was later pronounced dead. The Homicide Unit assumed the investigation, and her body was turned over to the Delaware Division of Forensic Science to determine the cause and manner of death.
State police say this is an active investigation but report that "there is no perceived danger to the public." Detectives are asking anyone with information to contact Detective B. McDerby at (302) 741-2821. Investigators have not released further details about the nature of Rogers' injuries or any possible suspect and say additional information will be shared as the case develops.
Where It Happened
Alapocas Run State Park sits just outside downtown Wilmington and includes stretches of the Northern Delaware Greenway, a multi-park trail that connects Bellevue State Park with paths in the Brandywine area. The Greenway is part of a wider regional system of paved paths that draw runners, cyclists, dog walkers, and families, while Alapocas Run's mix of paved trail and rugged woods makes it a regular destination for both city residents and suburban visitors. For more background on the trail network, see Delaware Greenways.
How to Help
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Detective B. McDerby at (302) 741-2821 or leave an anonymous tip with Delaware Crime Stoppers at (800) 847-3333, as reported by NBC10 Philadelphia. The Delaware Division of Forensic Science will conduct testing to determine Rogers' cause and manner of death, and investigators say they plan to release more information as the investigation continues.
