By ANDY GARDNER

BRASHER FALLS -- State police are investigating the death of a Brasher Falls woman reported missing Monday night.

Bureau of Criminal Investigation Lt. Brent Davison said Kathy R. Eckstein was found dead in a field behind her house on Upper Ridge Road. Davison said Eckstein was 57 or 58 years old.

The BCI lieutenant would not comment on the cause of death or if foul play is suspected, citing the ongoing investigation.

“Her husband reported her missing yesterday … the circumstances of her death are under investigation,” Davison said.

Clusters of people gathered in front of neighboring houses to watch the operation which began around 11 a.m.

A neighbor who refused to identify herself said the Ecksteins lived at their Upper Ridge Road residence for “quite a long time,” and mostly kept to themselves.

“I’ve never seen her in the field, I always saw her checking the mail,” said Dorothy Pate, who lives across the road from the Ecksteins.