WOMAN WHO WAS MISSING FOUND DEAD

SCOTT CITY, Mo. -- An autopsy will be performed today on the body of a Scott City woman who had been missing since July 27.

Authorities believe Willie Mae Vasquez was the victim of a homicide. Two suspects are in custody.

Vasquez' buried body was found by Scott County sheriff's deputies Wednesday in an area east of the city near the Mississippi River.

The body had been buried in a heavily overgrown sandy area frequented by partiers along the river.

Based on information provided by one of the suspects, sheriff's deputies assisted by the Scott City Police Department began searching the area near the end of County Road 307 at about 3 p.m. Wednesday. The body was discovered about two hours later.

"Apparently she had been murdered," said Scott County Sheriff Bill Ferrell. He would not say how authorities believe she was killed.

Ferrell would not say what if any relationship existed between Vasquez and the suspects.

The 57-year-old Vasquez was last seen by her daughter, Susan Steel, on July 26. An animal-control officer reported seeing her late the following morning.

Authorities already had searched the area several times after Vasquez was reported missing, even though at that time they had no reason to believe her body might be there. "We didn't really know," Ferrell said. "We were just grabbing at straws."

Because the area where the grave was found was so heavily overgrown, authorities probably would not have been able to find the grave without the information provided by one of the suspects, Ferrell said.

A private investigator hired by Steel, Wolsey Investigative Services, worked in conjunction with the sheriff's department on the case, Ferrell said.

Steel had been her mother's legal guardian since February. Vasquez was a manic depressive.

Ferrell said he expects Prosecuting Attorney Cristy Baker-Neel will file charges against the suspects today.