Police investigate death of missing Va. woman whose body was found in a ditch

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Police say they are confident that the body they found in a ditch on Friday is that of a missing Alexandria woman. They are also saying that they are confident she was murdered.

A resident made the discovery and in mere moments the worst case scenario became all too real.

Officers were called to Cotton Mill Dr. and Griffith Ave. just before 11 on Friday morning where the body was discovered. They are confident the body is that of Lizeth Yadira Lopez, who was reported missing and endangered on April 19. Investigators said in a release that the body will be transferred to the Medical Examiner's Office for an autopsy.

The area she was found in is dark and desolate and that may present a challenge for police in finding witnesses. In fact, they're turning to the public for help in solving a case that's garnered the attention of the whole community.

Fox 5 is learning more about Lopez who was last seen at a Woodbridge CVS Pharmacy. Her friends and co-workers call her Liz and she reportedly worked the overnight shift at an independent living home where she was one of two counselors supervising young adults between 17 and 21 years old. On the heels of Lopez's death, her co-workers are apparently concerned about their safety. "The way she was positioned down there leads us to believe it's a homicide," Officer Nathaniel Probus of the Prince William County Police Department explained.

The cause of death is being investigated as a homicide, but no other details were immediately given. Lopez's family reported her missing on April 19, and the next day, her car was located near where she worked on Pond Run Drive in Woodbridge. On April 22, police searched wooded areas near her workplace with K-9s and a helicopter, but found nothing.

Anyone with information about Lopez's disappearance is asked to call Prince William County Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS.

Stay with FOX 5 and fox5dc.com for updates.