Authorities Determine How Grandma Who Fell into Sinkhole Died While Looking for Pet Cat

• Elizabeth Pollard, who fell into a sinkhole, died of head and torso injuries, according to the Westmoreland County Office of the Coroner in Pennsylvania

• Her body was found on Dec. 6 after a multi-day search

• Her family issued a statement thanking authorities for their efforts

Authorities have reportedly determined the cause of death of Elizabeth Pollard, the 64-year-old grandmother whose body was recently recovered after she fell into a Pennsylvania sinkhole last week while looking for her pet cat.

Pollard died of injuries to the head and torso, according to The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, citing a preliminary autopsy report shared by the Westmoreland County Office of the Coroner on Monday, Dec. 9. (The coroner's office did not immediately comment to PEOPLE.)

Coroner Tim Carson said it is unknown whether Pollard died in the fall or died after, the Tribune-Review reported. Toxicology results from the autopsy have not yet been completed.

Related: Missing Grandmother Found Dead Days After Falling into Sinkhole in Pennsylvania

Pollard was first reported missing by a relative in the early morning hours of Tuesday, Dec. 3, when she disappeared while looking for her missing cat, authorities have said.

The Unity Township woman set off hours earlier in her car, along with her 5-year-old granddaughter, who was later found safe and asleep inside her vehicle.

Approximately 36 hours after Pollard was initially reported missing, officials switched gears in the search and rescue efforts due to safety concerns — and on Wednesday, Dec. 4, Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Limani said that their work had turned into a recovery effort.

Then on Friday, Dec. 6, authorities announced the discovery of Pollard’s body.

Officials believe she fell through a sinkhole that unexpectedly opened in the ground, and then she dropped into an abandoned mine below.

Related: 32-Year-Old Man Dies After Sinkhole 'Opened Suddenly' at Pool Party: 'A Very Unusual Incident'

“During the course of the removal of dirt and sifting through things, we did find Elizabeth,” Limani, with state police, told reporters. "We found her approximately 30 feet below the surface of where the mine would have sat. She was about 12 feet southwest of where the original sinkhole occurred.”

Marguerite Fire Chief Scot Graham, the incident commander, noted that crews extricated Pollard's body from the hole with the use of machinery because "it was not safe to send anybody down."

Authorities said there was no sign of Pollard's missing cat, The New York Times reported.

In a statement shared with the Tribune-Review, some of Pollard’s relatives thanked authorities for their efforts.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 

”They didn’t fail us; they did what they could do,” the family said. “They have been a big support to our family, keeping us updated with everything. “We’re very appreciative of the first responders, state police, anybody that was involved in the search.”

“They took their time to make sure that, regardless what the outcome was going to be, they brought my aunt back to the family, to give that closure that’s going to be needed,” their statement continued.

Read the original article on People