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Portsmouth police Officer Dana Cummings at the scene of the investigation at the entrance to Peirce Island Friday night in Portsmouth. (Ioanna Raptis photo)

PORTSMOUTH A police source said an investigation Friday night at Peirce Island, which includes help from the Coast Guard, is related to the disappearance this week of University of New Hampshire student Elizabeth Marriott.

The investigation is being led by the state attorney general's office, state police and the Dover Police Department, according to Portsmouth Police Chief Steve DuBois.

Petty Officer Thomas Barossi of the U.S. Coast Guard station in Portsmouth, said Portsmouth police called for assistance to provide both light in the water and on Peirce Island.

We're just taking orders from the authorities, he said. We don't really know what we're searching for.

Marriott's aunt Rebecca Tyning, who was at the scene, said she heard about the investigation at Pierce Island from a reporter and heard speculation that authorities may have either found Marriott's body or vehicle.

However, Tyning said authorities have not been able to tell her anything concrete and said they may not be able to do so until the morning.

"For all we know there may be nothing down there," she said.

Tyning said Marriott's parents are home in Massachusetts and do not know about the current situation in Portsmouth.

Continued here:
Missing UNH student's aunt: No word yet as police, Coast Guard search at Peirce Island