Missing Woman’s Body Found Near Rochester; Authorities Suspicious
Rochester, MN (KROC AM News) - The Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a possible homicide.
A woman’s body was found at a remote site on a farm east of Rochester last week.
A man who was mowing grass made the discovery around 6:00 pm Friday after spotting an arm sticking out from under a tarp.
Capt. Jim Schueller says the body was so badly decomposed an immediate ID could not be made. Fingerprint testing led to a positive identification Tuesday. Schueller says the woman was 28-year-old Tia Arlerth, who had been reported missing to Rochester police by her mother on June 12th. She was last seen in the Rochester area on May 30th.
Schueller says Arleth had a Minneapolis address but had lived in Rochester in the past and had significant ties to the city.
Schueller says the condition of the body has made it difficult to determine the cause of death and it’s hoped toxicology test results will produce more information. But he says her death is highly suspicious because of where and how her body was found. The site is in the area of County Rd 2 and 70th Ave NE. Schueller says it is a very remote site that cannot be seen from a nearby road. He believes her body was brought there after she had died.
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Schueller is hoping friends or acquaintances may help in the investigation and he is encouraging anyone who may have information to contact his office.