Police Find Body Of Missing Ross Teacher

ROSS (CBS / AP) -- Authorities said they found the body of a Ross school teacher who left a cryptic message on her classroom blackboard before going missing.

Searchers found 53-year-old Debra Schmitt's body Saturday morning near a creek in the small town, police said. Schmitt was a Ross resident.

Students in Schmitt's high school English class told police they found the message "Thank you everyone" on the chalkboard when they showed up for class Jan. 20. She was last seen a day earlier.

Police said there were no signs of foul play where Schmitt was found. The Marin County coroner planned to investigate the cause of her death, which could take several weeks.

Schmitt's cousin Linda Czarnik said the teacher was going through a divorce and had recently lost three close relatives.

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