Homicide ruled in death of Columbia woman found in trunk

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) -- The death of a 53-year-old Columbia woman whose body was found in her car trunk has been ruled a homicide by investigators.

A completed autopsy report was released this week by the Boone County medical examiner's office.

Investigators are not releasing the exact cause of Helen Sanders' death, although they confirmed that drowning is one possibility.

Columbia police Capt. Brad Nelson says no one has been charged with the death, and that releasing the cause could jeopardize the case.

Sanders' 19-year-old son, Daniel Sanders, faces a charge of tampering with evidence in connection with the body's discovery on Aug. 14.

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Information from: Columbia Daily Tribune, http://www.columbiatribune.com