Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a woman whose partially decomposed body was found in bushes in the Dignity Gardens area yesterday morning, said CDU chief Paul Rolle.

Superintendent Rolle said a young girl walking in the area noticed a strong stench emanating from nearby bushes. The girl checked the area and found the woman’s body on the eastern side of Dignity Gardens.

He said police were alerted to the incident shortly after 10:00 a.m. Sunday.

“Officers responded to that scene where they met a female, we believe a 55-year-old female,” Superintendent Rolle said. “She was partially decomposed and also partially naked wearing only a skirt at the time.

“She appears to have been physically assaulted as she had what appear to be bruises to the face.”

He said that based on the stage of decomposition, the woman is likely to have been dead for between three to five days.

While no official missing persons report matching this woman’s description has been posted by police in recent days or weeks, Superintendent Rolle said authorities have good reason to believe that they know who the victim is.

He also confirmed that the woman was a resident of the Carmichael Road area.