The Thurston County coroner says a body found off a highway near Yelm, Wash., has been identified as a 53-year-old Tacoma woman missing since mid-May.

Pierce County sheriff's Detective Denny Wood tells The Olympian that the death of Rita Catherine Kagawa is being investigated as a homicide. Wood says his office has a person of interest.

Kagawa was reported missing by her family on May 20.

A motorist found her body on Tuesday off of State Route 510 in Thurston County.

Coroner Gary Warnock said Friday that autopsy results are pending.