Leah K. Bellitto, a 28-year-old investigative specialist with the FBI, was found dead in a wooded area in East Amherst on Tuesday three days after she was reported missing. The circumstances surrounding her death remain unclear, and authorities have not yet confirmed whether foul play was involved.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Bellitto will be held at 11am on Saturday at St. Mary's Catholic Church, located at 6919 Transit Road in Swormville.
Born in Amherst, Leah was the youngest of four children, the daughter of Paul and Kathleen Redding Bellitto. A standout athlete, she graduated from Nardin Academy in 2015 where she was a leading scorer on the basketball team and earned second team All-Catholic honors in her senior year.
Bellitto went on to earn a bachelor's degree in intelligence studies and political science from Mercyhurst University in Erie, Pennsylvania. She graduated magna cum laude.
In addition to her academic achievements, Leah was a dedicated Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practitioner, attaining the rank of Blue Belt. She volunteered as an assistant coach for children's Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at Lake Effect Martial Arts in Depew and was an active member of the National Wild Turkey Federation, enjoying hunting and fishing in her free time.
The community mourns the loss of a promising young woman, and our thoughts and prayers go out to her family, friends and loved ones.
Missing Woman Leah Bellitto Found Dead Outside in Snow (story published 2/11/2024)
A woman from Amherst who had been reported missing has been discovered deceased. Leah Bellitto, 29, was located in a body of water near Dodge Road on Tuesday morning. She was last seen around 9:15pm on Saturday in the Ransom Oaks neighborhood.
According to police, a passerby found her at approximately 9:55am on Tuesday. While there are currently no indications of foul play, the cause and manner of her death are still under investigation.
Authorities are urging anyone with information regarding this case to contact the Amherst police at (716) 689-1311.
ORIGINAL STORY
The Amherst Police Department is urgently seeking the public's assistance in locating 29-year-old Leah Bellitto who was last seen by her family on Saturday around 9pm in East Amherst. Authorities are increasingly concerned for her safety prompting extensive search efforts in the area. The search efforts, conducted by law enforcement and civilians, have focussed on wooded areas, ponds, and etc..
Leah is described as a 5'6" white female with brown hair and brown eyes, weighing approximately 135 pounds. At the time of her disappearance, she was wearing a black long-sleeve shirt, black pants, and carrying a blue flowered-patterned backpack.
Friends and family have mobilized to search the wooded areas of East Amherst where Leah was last seen. Search parties have been actively combing through the terrain and a drone operator has been deployed to survey a frozen pond in hopes of uncovering any clues regarding her whereabouts.
The community is urged to remain vigilant and anyone with information about Leah Bellitto or her location is asked to contact the Amherst Police Department at (716) 689-1311. You can also call 911.
As the search continues, concerns are mounting that authorities may be looking for a body, underscoring the urgency of the situation.
Foul Play Unknown in Death of FBI Agent Leah Bellitto