ABC7 producer killed while vacationing in Belize

Anne Swaney (LinkedIn)

CHICAGO (FOX 32 News) - A producer for ABC7 Chicago was found dead while vacationing in Belize, according to the station citing a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department.

The body of Anne Swaney, 39, was found in a river in the Central American country on Friday.

Swaney, who served as the executive producer of online operations for the station's website, was on vacation in the Cayo district of western Belize. The owner of the hotel reported Swaney missing on Thursday.

Swaney's body was found by police at 8:15 a.m. Friday, Benque Viejo Police Superintendent Daniel Arzu told WLS. Arzu said her body was found with "bruises on her neck and lacerations on either side of her head."

"She was a trailblazer in the digital news space and was one of our first website employees," President and General Manager of ABC7 John H. Idler said in a statement.

"Anne helped us evolve our business and our newsroom, but most importantly she was a kind person who was always had a smile and a positive attitude," Idler said.