Modautal/Lützelbach (dpa/lhe) - A 28-year-old rider was found dead in a wooded area in Lützelbach (Odenwaldkreis) early on Friday morning. The woman started her ride with horse and dog on Thursday afternoon in the Modautal (Darmstadt-Dieburg district), about 30 kilometers away, the police said. The worried owner of the horse reported a few hours later to the police because of the 28-year-old's absence.

In the course of the search measures initiated shortly thereafter with a police helicopter and rescue dog squadron, the horse was located late Thursday evening in a forest between the Modautal districts of Webern and Brandau. At the time, however, there was still no trace of the rider and her dog, as it was said. The missing woman was found dead in the woods in Lützelbach early Friday morning.

As part of the police search measures, the young woman was initially located by a drone with a thermal imaging camera and later found by the emergency services. The dog was captured near where the body was found. According to the current status of the investigation, an accident is assumed, according to the police.