Young Woman's Body Found On Snowy Sidewalk

RICHMOND (WWJ) - Police say the body of a young woman who wasn't dressed appropriately for the frigid winter weather was found near a pharmacy in St. Clair County.

The startling discovery was made early Saturday morning outside of the Rite-Aid Pharmacy on Gratiot Avenue, near 31 Mile and County Line roads in Richmond.

"As it started to become daylight, some passersby at the Rite-Aid at the south end of town in Richmond saw what appeared to be a body laying on the sidewalk," Police Chief Dave Teske told WWJ's Russ McNamara. "Our officers were called to the scene and in fact it was confirmed that a young female was deceased."

Teske said they're not quite sure what caused the woman's death, if she died right there or if her body was dumped.

"She wasn't quite clothed for winter weather, minus a hat, gloves and a coat. So, we don't know if that is a contributing cause or what the circumstances were," he said. "We're leaving all our options open."

Teske said the woman appears to be in her young 20s.

"We're pretty sure we know who she is but we have to confirm that with the next of kin first," he said. "We are processing the crime scene, taking photographs and measurements and the things that go along with that, and then the medical examiner will do an autopsy to determine a cause of death."

An investigation is ongoing.