Officials seek help in identifying dead woman

The Moniteau County Sheriff's Department and the Missouri Water Patrol are asking for help in identifying a woman found in the Missouri River near Lupus in August.

Reconstruction of victim's face

According to a press release, the victim is of African-American descent and shown to be 36 years of age from examination of her femur. She is described as being about 5-feet tall, weighing approximately 115 to 130 pounds with dark brown hair that was pulled into a ponytail. She was nude when she was found Aug. 29.

The victim had a hysterectomy and she was missing one front tooth. Toxicology reports indicated traces of cocaine in her body tissue.

She was shot once in the head with a small-caliber weapon. She had been in the river for several weeks and possibly longer, since she had been weighted down.

The advanced decomposition of the facial skin required a reconstruction by the University of Missouri-Columbia Anthropology Department.

Any information as to the woman's identity should provided to Sheriff Kenny Jones of the Moniteau County Sheriff's Department at (573) 796-2525; Sgt. Tom Breen, Missouri Highway Patrol at (573) 751-1000; or Sgt. Mike Smith, Missouri Water Patrol at (573) 751-3333.