Police: Body found in DC is Joni Rockingham, woman reported missing after Thanksgiving

WASHINGTON - Authorities confirm a body found Tuesday morning in a Northeast neighborhood is a D.C. woman who was reported missing the day after Thanksgiving.

Investigators say a woman's body, now confirmed is 53-year-old Joni Shareete Rockingham, was in a trash can near the rear driveway of a vacant home.

Officers received a call at about 8:30 a.m. and responded to the 300 block of 34th Street.

"I've been searching for her for so long. I went through all these parks looking for her," Rockingham's friend Mary Jones said.

Friends told FOX 5 they searched all over the neighborhood for Rockingham and believed her body must have been placed in the trash can or they would've found her.

Police say the cause of death was found to be multiple stab wounds and are ruling her death as a homicide.

Police are calling the death "very suspicious."

Rockingham had not been seen reportedly since Nov. 22 in the 3400 block of Eads Street, Northeast, however she was not reported missing until Nov. 24.

DC Police Chief Peter Newsham and Mayor Muriel Bowser both responded to the scene.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call police at (202) 727-9099. There is a reward of up to $25,000 for information.