Police and rescue personnel swarmed the shores of the Nechako River on Friday afternoon, downstream from the John Hart Bridge.
Witnesses had seen a woman go into the freezing water.
Searchers were on-scene in moments and quickly located some personal effects at the top of the steep shoreline bank, with a footpath in the snow leading down to the water's edge.
RCMP, firefighters, ambulance paramedics and Prince George Search and Rescue attended the scene. A helicopter was deployed and a police dog unit as well.
Within an hour of the distress call, the dog unit came to the tragic end of the trail. A female was found on the shoreline, already succumbed to her injuries.
"There are indicators that lead us to the conclusion this was a suicide," said RCMP spokesman Cpl. Craig Douglass.
The water was extremely cold, he said, with a large quantity of snow and ice, and a powerful current. Even someone in perfect health would have a hard time surviving a fall into any of the area's rivers at this time of year.
No further details were disclosed.
