Poiciana Unidentified Young Woman
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Published: Friday,
November 2, 2007
Woman Whose Body Was Burned Still Unidentified
By Amber Smith
The Ledger
POICIANA | The woman whose body was found burning in Poinciana on Thursday was the victim of a homicide, Chief W.J. Martin of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office said this afternoon.
Investigators have not identified her.
How she was killed is not being released at this time because this is on ongoing investigation, said Martin, who leads the Criminal Investigations Division.
Martin said someone who knew the victim would probably be able to recognize her despite the damage caused by the flames.
The woman was described as 15 to 19 years old, 5 feet, 5 inches tall, and weighing 105 pounds.
She was probably white, but may have been Hispanic or Asian. She was wearing Nike cross trainers of undetermined color.
She had light brown hair with red streaks dyed in that was 15 inches long and had blue hair extensions. She may have been wearing a belly ring. Her eye color could not be determined.
Her appendix had been removed and she had a cist on her right ovary for which she may have been seeking medical attention.
Martin said investigators
believe she was killed within a few hours of her body being dumped at
a planned subdivision with paved streets but no homes on Marlin Road,
off Lake Marion Creek Road.
The body had not been on fire before the Polk County Fire Department
arrived to put out the flames.
A resident in the Lake Marion Creek School area call the Fire Department after smalling smoke about 9 a.m. Thursday.
Firefighters discovered the body after putting out the 1-acre fire.
The fire was set in an attempt to destroy the body and evidence. With the nearest homes about half a mile away, detectives have not found any witnesses.
The woman has not
been linked to any recent missing persons cases in Polk.
Last modified: November 02. 2007 5:04PM