Body Found Friday Likely Missing Alexandria Woman, Police Say

PHOTO: Lizeth Yadira Lopez, 36, was reported missing April 19; photo courtesy of police

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LAKE RIDGE, VA — A 36-year-old Alexandria woman reported missing April 19 is likely the victim of homicide, according to police.

Prince William County police say a body found in a drainage ditch Friday morning in Lake Ridge is believed to be that of a missing Alexandria woman. The death is being investigated as a homicide, police said.

The body is "presumed to be Lizeth Yadira Lopez, 36, who was reported as missing and endangered on April 19," the police said.

The body was transported to the local Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy, police said.

Also read: Missing Alexandria Woman: Video Shows Hours Before She Disappeared

The body was discovered Friday morning, and officers responded at 10:56 a.m. to the scene, in the vicinity of Cotton Mill Drive and Griffith Avenue, the police said. The site is near Lake Ridge Community Park, north of Old Bridge Road.

Lopez was last seen at a CVS store Sunday, April 17; she was caught on surveillance video leaving the store about 9 p.m. She was reported missing to Alexandria Police on Tuesday, April 19. Her car was found near her place of employment on Wednesday, April 20 in Prince William County on Pond Run Drive. There was a search of the area near where her car was found on Friday, April 22 with police from Prince William County and Fairfax County using a helicopter and K-9s.

The store is about 2.5 miles from the drainage ditch where the body was found. Her car was found on Pond Run Drive, not far from the ditch, about a five-minute walk.

Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to call Prince William County Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS.

Map shows CVS, where victim was last seen; car was found at Pond Run Drive; body found at Cotton Mill Drive and Griffith Avenue: