STARKVILLE — The Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s Office has positively identified the body of a woman found off County Lake Road on Sept. 4 as Virginia T. Hood, 45, of Hattiesburg.
Dental records helped the state medical examiner identify Hood, according to an OCSO press release.
No cause of death has been determined, as the state medical examiner awaits toxicology results.
Hood’s body was discovered on Sept. 4 in a wooded area by people riding four-wheelers.
OCSO officials made a preliminary ID based on personal items found near the body.
According to the OCSO, foul play wasn’t suspected at that time and isn’t part of the current investigation.
“All we know is she left her boyfriend, walked off and ended up out there,” Oktibbeha County Sheriff Dolph Bryan said.
OCSO Commander Brett Watson added: “We feel like we know she was out there on her own accord and not because somebody took her out there.”
Hood was never reported missing; she’d fallen out of contact with her family and moved to Oktibbeha County for personal reasons, according to Watson.
OCSO’s first notification of Hood’s disappearance was on Sept. 4.
It’s unknown how long Hood’s body went undiscovered.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information on the case can call the OCSO at 662-323-2421 or 662-324-8484.
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