Woman's Body Found in Raceland Over the Weekend.

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RACELAND, La. — Investigators have confirmed that a body found over the weekend in a wooded area of Lafourche Parish is that of a Metairie woman who was reported missing. Mia West had been missing since Oct. 7, when she was last seen driving in an area of Metairie, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office said. Advertisement Few details were released about her disappearance, but the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff's Office said Friday that it was joining the search for West because of her ties to the area.

The next day, the Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office confirmed that a farmer harvesting sugar cane in a field along Highway 307 on Saturday morning found an abandoned car several hundred yards from the highway, which investigators identified as West's red Nissan Altima. This discovery prompted detectives to conduct a search of the sugar cane field and wooded area near the car. Jefferson Parish deputies assisted with the use of a helicopter.


At around 2 p.m. Saturday, a body was located in a nearby wooded area. Lafourche Parish officials said Monday that an autopsy in Jefferson Parish confirmed it was West's body, but that due to its condition, a manner of death could not be determined. Officials said a toxicology test is pending and that investigators have not ruled out suicide or foul play in West's death. Authorities are continuing to investigate the death. Anyone who may have any information on this case is asked to submit a tip anonymously through Crime Stoppers Bayou Region by phone at 1-800-743-7433 or online.

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