Woman’s Body Found on Tustin Golf Course

A 38-year-old Tustin woman was found dead Friday morning near the 18th fairway at the Tustin Ranch Golf Course, police said.

Linda Marie Foster was fully clothed but did not have a purse or any other belongings with her, said Tustin Police Sgt. Jim Peery.

Police said Foster was last seen alive Thursday night in the golf course clubhouse about 4:30 p.m. Police have not determined a cause of death, but may know more after an autopsy scheduled for today.

“We treat these kinds of cases as a homicide investigation until we find out that it isn’t,” said Tustin Police Lt. Michael Shanahan. “But there are no outward signs--we’re not dealing with a gunshot or anything like that.”

Foster appeared to have minor injuries, he said, but they could have resulted from a fall down a nearby hill. There were no signs of a sexual assault or struggle. Police were able to identify Foster by her fingerprints.

Foster had been living in the Tustin Ranch area, police said.

There is a housing tract near the golf course, which is off Irvine Boulevard, but the houses are fenced in. The only way for the public to get to the course is to drive into the parking lot and walk onto the course, Peery said. Police had not found a suspicious car in the parking lot, Peery said.

Foster’s body was discovered at 7:49 a.m. by golfers about 15 feet off the fairway, police said.

Police said that anyone with information about Foster should call the Tustin Police Department at (714) 573-3250, or (714) 573-3200.