Body found near Millersburg

Sheriff: Injuries appear to be self-inflicted

A woman's body was found at the Little Dixie Wildlife Conservation Area near Millersburg late Monday afternoon.

Callaway County Sheriff Dennis Crane said Monday night the body of a 49-year-old white female was found in her vehicle at 4 p.m. by a local man who was walking in the area.

The woman's identity has not been released pending notification of the family, but Crane did say she is believed to be from Columbia.

"It appears to be self-inflicted," Crane said of the cause of death, emphasizing that investigators want to speak with friends and family to get more information. "A weapon (handgun) was found there and there were some papers that indicated some kind of financial problems, but we want to know more."

He said the woman's vehicle was not at the conservation area at 10 a.m. when conservation officials were there, but was first noticed by the local walker at 2:30 p.m.

"The person didn't think much of it, but when he returned to the area at almost 4, that was when he paid attention and noticed the female," Crane said.

He said Callaway County Sheriff's deputies are working with Columbia and Boone County law enforcement to notify the woman's family.