Body Found In Leelanau County Identified As Missing TC Woman

A body recovered in Leelanau County has been identified as that of a 62-year-old woman reported missing in Traverse City this week, with the case being treated as a homicide.

A passerby called authorities upon discovering the woman's body Wednesday at 11:32am in a wooded area along Kasson Center road in Kasson Township, with drag marks leading to the scene. Authorities responded and located the body, which appeared to be dumped at the property in an effort to hide the victim. The Michigan State Police Crime Lab in Grayling was summoned to the scene to assist in processing evidence, while the body was transported to Kalamazoo for an autopsy.

During the course of the investigation, authorities determined the victim was a 62-year-old woman, originally from Illinois, who had been living in Traverse City for several months and was reported missing by her husband late Wednesday afternoon. The couple had an argument Tuesday evening, and the husband left to spend the night at a different location. He returned the next morning to find his wife gone, and reported her missing later that day.

Authorities have not yet released the woman's name pending notification of her family. A person of interest, who is not the woman's husband, is in custody. The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities noting their efforts have been hampered this week by single-digit temperatures, high winds, and blowing snow.