Female Body Is Found Behind Motel

Police launched a homicide investigation after the partially clad body of a woman was found behind a Beach Boulevard motel Monday.

The woman, whose identity has not been determined, was found by a gardener in the bushes behind the Crescent Motel at 8530 Beach Blvd. about 1 p.m., said Sgt. Terry Branum.

“At this point, we believe it is homicide,” said Branum, adding that autopsy results should be complete by today. “If it comes back as a drug overdose, that would be different. But until someone tells us differently, we’ll investigate it as a homicide.”

Branum described the woman as black, in her mid-20s, and wearing only a blouse and a bra, Branum said.

A coroner’s estimate the time of death at between midnight and 2:30 a.m. Branum said. A small purse containing only some cigarettes and a few coins was found near the body, Branum said.

Investigators have taken fingerprints of the woman to help identify her, Branum said. None of the guests, nor the management of the motel, recognized her, Branum said.

The gardener who found the body, Lukas Salazar, said he was doing some yard work when he discovered the body in the shrubbery. Her face was covered with leaves, Salazar said.

“It scared me a lot,” said Salazar, 29. “I have never in my life seen anything like that.”

Police have no suspects and no vehicle was seen in the area.