A nearly two-week search for missing Purcellville resident Carolyn Taylor may have come to a tragic end Sunday afternoon after authorities located a deceased person along Hughesville Road.

The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office said the individual was found at approximately 4:51 p.m. Sept. 6 in the 38000 block of Hughesville Road. Detectives believe the person is Taylor, 81, who had been missing since Aug. 23. The Sheriff’s Office has not yet announced a positive identification.

Taylor was last seen at approximately 10:40 a.m. Aug. 23 in the area of Foundry and Hughesville roads after leaving her residence on foot.

Her disappearance prompted an extensive search that continued for nearly two weeks. By Sept. 3, the Sheriff’s Office reported that search teams had covered between 5,500 and 6,000 acres on foot, with many areas searched multiple times. The effort included helicopters, drones, all-terrain vehicles, bloodhounds and other scent-specific K-9 teams, as well as ground search crews and assistance from numerous public and private organizations in Virginia and Maryland.

Throughout the search, authorities also appealed to the community for help, asking residents to check their properties, sheds and outbuildings and review security, doorbell and wildlife camera footage for anything that might provide a clue to Taylor’s whereabouts.

The Sheriff’s Office said Sunday evening that the investigation remains active and is asking anyone with additional information to contact LCSO at 703-777-1021.