WHATELY — The 35-year-old Whately woman reported missing March 27 was found dead inside a River Road house Tuesday night, according to the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office.
The body of Katelyn Gralinski was removed from the scene by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, which will perform an autopsy to determine the cause of death.
The Whately Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police Detectives Unit attached to the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office responded to the house at roughly 7:30 p.m., according to spokesperson Mary Carey.
Whately Police took to Facebook about a week ago to appeal to the public for help in locating Gralinski, who was last seen in the River Road area between roughly 2:30 and 3:30 a.m. on March 27.
The Whately Fire Department also responded to the scene for a small fire unrelated to Gralinski’s death, Carey said.
Whately Fire Chief John Hannum said his station was dispatched to the fire at Manheim Farm at 7:48 p.m. He said his crew was joined at 311 River Road by the South Deerfield, Conway, Sunderland and Hatfield fire departments, and the fire was knocked down at around 8 p.m. Firefighters left the scene at roughly 9 p.m.
Hannum said the fire was caused by papers left on a halogen light. He said firefighters used about 10 gallons of water to extinguish the fire and there is minimal damage to the house.
Manheim Farm had no comment when contacted by the Greenfield Recorder.
Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 262.