A homicide investigation was underway Monday after a woman’s body was discovered by a passing motorist near state Route 138 in northwestern Los Angeles County a day earlier.
The motorist saw the body in a brush-covered area along Gorman Post Road, just north of the highway, after making a brief rest stop at about 5 p.m., the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department stated in a news release.
The victim, a woman in her 20s, appeared to be unconscious so the motorist called 911, the Sheriff’s Department stated.
Authorities were sent to the location just north of the highway to investigate the discovery and found the woman had suffered trauma to her head, the news release stated.
The woman, who has not been identified, was pronounced dead at the scene.
“We believe this is a homicide and we’re treating it as such,” said Lt. Joe Mendoza with the Sheriff’s Department.
The exact cause of death was unknown, but will be determined by the Los Angeles County coroner’s office, according to the news release.
The Sheriff’s Department described the area where the body was found as “unincorporated Lebec,” but the intersection described is east of the 5 Freeway between Gorman and Pyramid Lake.
Anyone with information was asked to call the Sheriff’s Department at 323-890-5500. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.
Correction: An earlier version of this story misidentified the freeway near where the woman’s body was discovered. The story has been updated.