Joanna Brown, a cherished bakery worker from Worcester who vanished after her shift last Friday, was tragically found dead, police confirmed Tuesday. Her body was discovered Monday night inside a parked vehicle.<br /><br />According to authorities, Brown was last seen around 9 a.m. on Friday at the Bean Counter Bakery, where she was known for her warmth and dedication. She reportedly left mid-shift, telling coworkers she had a personal matter to attend to — but she never returned.<br /><br />“She meant the world to us,” said bakery owner **Alice Lombardi**. “Joanna was the heart of our business — customers adored her.”<br /><br />When Brown failed to come back to work or contact her loved ones, her family grew alarmed and reported her missing on Sunday. Police issued a public appeal for help the next day, expressing deep concern for her wellbeing.<br /><br />That same afternoon, around 4 p.m., officers discovered her body in a gray **Mitsubishi Outlander** parked at the **Green Hill Towers** apartment complex on Mount Vernon Street. Authorities have not yet released details about the cause of death or confirmed who owned the vehicle.<br /><br />“The circumstances surrounding Ms. Brown’s death remain under active investigation by the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office and the Worcester Police Detective Bureau,” officials said in a statement.<br /><br />Anyone with relevant information is asked to contact Worcester Police at **508-799-8651** or text **TIPWPD** to **CRIMES (274637)**.<br /><br />Regular customers have expressed heartbreak over her loss. One patron, **Eddie**, described Brown as kindhearted and full of life. “She was such a caring person — always looking out for others,” he said. “She made the best egg sandwiches and always had a smile on her face. We’d laugh and joke every morning. I just can’t believe she’s gone.”<br /><br />#BeanCounterBakery #AliceLombardi #JoannaBrown #Halloween #Worcester #Massachusetts #WorcesterMassachusetts #WorcesterCounty #DistrictAttorney<br />#Vanished #MissingWoman #Missing #Discovered #DeadBody #Mitsubishi #MitsubishiOutlander #SUV #GreenHillTowers #ApartmentComplex #ParkingLot #MountVernonStreet
