Woman's body found in rural Lee County

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BY CHUCK VANDENBERG

PCC EDITOR

LEE COUNTY - The body of a woman in her 20s was discovered in Lee County Sunday morning southwest of West Point.

The Lee County Sheriff's department was notified just before noon that a body had been discovered just off 235th Avenue about five miles southwest of West Point. The Iowa Department of Criminal Investigations is investigating the death and special agent in charge Rick Rahn, said they do not believe the girl is Mollie Tibbetts. The Tibbett disappearance has been part of national news for close to a month.

A Lee County Sheriff's deputy and an Iowa State Trooper block traffic on 235th Avenue where a woman's body was found Sunday morning. Photo by Chuck Vandenberg/PCC

"Investigators are keenly aware of the Mollie Tibbetts investigation and have no reason to believe that the decedent is that of Mollie Tibbetts," a DCI release said Sunday.

When asked what information was used in making the determination, Rahn said investigators believe they have identified the girl, but would provide no additional information as to the cause of death or condition of the body. He said an autopsy on the body is pending.

"We believe we've identified her, but we won't be releasing that information pending family notification," Rahn said.

He said the body has been transported to the state medical examiner's office.

The Lee County Sheriff's Department, Iowa State Patrol, West Point Fire & Rescue, staff from the Lee County Attorney's office, and Iowa DCI investigators were all on the scene until about 3 p.m.

The DCI release also stated there would be no additional comments or statements made at this time in reference to the Lee County death investigation or the Mollie Tibbetts investigation.

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