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Sarah Lingate’s Body Recovered

International Herald Tribune

Monday, July 20, 1992

Capri, Italy— The body of Sarah Lingate was discovered early Monday morning in an inlet south of the Faraglioni. A pair of fishing boats performed the recovery. Lingate was pronounced dead at the scene.

Since Sunday, the search for the missing playwright had consumed resources on the island. Local police found no trace of Lingate even as they expanded their search to Anacapri and the boats anchored around the island. By evening, Lingate still had not been located.

Monday morning, the family’s fears were confirmed: Sarah Lingate was dead below the cliffs of Capri. Her body, badly damaged in the fall, was easily identified by her clothing and wedding rings. While the Lingate family has been interviewed by police, local authorities do not expect to name a suspect in the case. All preliminary investigations indicate the likely cause of death was either accidental or self-inflicted.

Richard Lingate reportedly spent Monday in a state of shock following the news of his wife’s death. He has declined to speak with the press. An attorney for the family arrived by boat late this afternoon. Naomi Lingate, the playwright’s sister-in-law, did note that the whole family was devastated by the outcome of the search.

Richard and Sarah Lingate were married for almost six years, and their three-year-old daughter was at the couple’s home in Los Angeles with a nanny when the death occurred.

The family has agreed to stay on the island until a full inquest can be completed.