Chesco woman Kirstie Alley wrote about found dead

A Chester County woman whose disappearance prompted actress Kirstie Alley to post a $25,000 reward was found dead yesterday morning, authorities said.

North Coventry Township police said they had found Kimberly Cox Twaddell, 41, two days after police announced a search.

Alley became involved because she lives near Twaddell's brother in California, Chester County District Attorney Joseph W. Carroll said.

Phoenixville Police Detective Sgt. Thomas J. Goggin said police received a call at 10:49 a.m. yesterday from one of Twaddell's friends who, along with relatives, had been searching for her SUV. Police found the body in the locked vehicle in an employee parking garage behind Phoenixville Hospital, he said.

An autopsy was scheduled for today, Goggin said.

"It appears to be a self-inflicted injury," he said, describing Twaddell's death as "a tragedy born out of a silent crisis she was apparently having." He declined to elaborate out of respect for the family.

He said Twaddell, mother of two children, worked in data entry at Pottstown Memorial Hospital and had been attending nursing school. She had done an internship at Phoenixville Hospital and would have had access to the parking area, he said.

"The family and friends of Kimberly Cox Twaddell are requesting privacy," police said in a statement yesterday afternoon, "and ask not to be contacted."

Twaddell's husband is Cpl. Mark Twaddell of the East Brandywine Township Police Department.

She was last seen leaving her North Coventry home at 1:10 p.m. Thursday, police said. She had not reported to work a few hours later.

At 3:43 p.m. Friday, police issued a news release asking the public for help in finding Twaddell, who was last seen driving a silver Toyota Highlander.

On Saturday, Alley began posting information about the disappearance on her Twitter page, describing Twaddell as the wife of a friend.

"Kim, call if u can," Alley wrote around 1 p.m. Saturday at http://twitter.com/kirstiealley.

An hour later, the actress, known for her leading role on Cheers, posted that she would pay $25,000 for help in finding Twaddell. Yesterday morning, she posted the woman's license-plate number as provided by police several days earlier, and asked the public for help.

Alley's anguished pleas came to an end about 1 p.m., when she wrote that Twaddell was dead. A short time later, Alley, who could not be reached for comment, posted one more note in which she thanked her Twitter followers and urged: "Lets flourish in our own lives . . . And help others. Always the best tribute to another persons life . . ."

East Brandywine Police Chief Mark D. Kocsi said the department's thoughts and prayers went out to the family.

"As you can imagine, today's developments have left all of us at East Brandywine Township saddened with heavy hearts. Our main focus at this time is to make sure that Mark, his children, and extended family have all of the resources and support that we can offer."