Authorities reveal autopsy details

Authorities are still waiting to determine the identity of a woman found dead near the Millcreek Mall last week while efforts are made to match reported missing persons with the discovery.

Millcreek Township police on Tuesday released updated information about the body, which Erie County Coroner Lyell Cook said earlier this week is a female.

Based on information gathered during an autopsy on the woman on Friday, the woman was 6 feet tall and weighed approximately 168 pounds, according to Millcreek police. She had no signs of scars, marks or tattoos and no signs of traumatic injury, police reported.

Cook said Monday that no evidence was found during the autopsy to indicate the woman was shot or stabbed. The cause of her death was still unknown on Wednesday.

Millcreek police additionally reported that the woman had previously undergone professional medical care, including at least three surgeries.

The female was found around 10:30 a.m. on Oct. 24 in a narrow stretch of Walnut Creek behind Elevate Church on the grounds of Millcreek Mall in Millcreek Township. The discovery was made by a fisherman who said he was exploring the waterway looking for steelhead.

Cook said the female had likely been dead for four to six months. There was no clothing on the body, which he said could indicate the body had been in a bush for an extended period of time.

Mercyhurst University’s department of applied forensic sciences is examining the remains as part of the ongoing investigation, the coroner said.

Monitoring cases of missing persons, homeless population

Millcreek police said investigators had contacted the Erie Bureau of Police and the Pennsylvania State Police to see if they had any open missing persons cases involving women that might be related to the discovery, but there were no cases found. Police said they have also released information about the discovery nationally to see if there are any other missing persons cases connected to the Millcreek incident.

Police said they have also conducted research among the region’s homeless population.

Anyone with information that may assist in the ongoing investigation is asked to contact Millcreek Police Department Detective Mike Inman at 814-838-9515 Ext. 557 or [email protected].

Contact Tim Hahn at [email protected]. Follow him on X @ETNhahn.