Body found in culvert ID'd by family as missing woman; cops say no public danger

MOUNTLAKE TERRACE, Wash. – Investigators searched for clues Monday after a woman’s body was recovered from a culvert on Sunday afternoon.

Officials have yet to officially identify the body, but Cheryl DeBoer’s employer -- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center -- and family confirm that it was DeBoer's body that was recovered from a culvert along Lyon Creek.

The cause of the death also has not been released.

Police say they believe some of Cheryl’s personal property is missing.

Search and rescue continued scouring the area for clues where volunteers first discovered the woman’s body on Sunday afternoon.

“A body matching the description of Cheryl was located in a culvert,” said Kevin Pickard, of the Mountlake Terrace Police Department.

Cheryl has been missing since last Monday. Police said Cheryl planned to meet up with a friend at the Mountlake Terrace park-and-ride together to commute into Seattle. But then Cheryl sent her friend a text message saying she would be late and would take the bus instead -- but she never made it to work.

Investigators found Cheryl’s car parked along nearby 58th Avenue.

Police are asking neighbors to report any suspicious activity they’ve seen over the past week.

“Vehicles, people, noises, something,” said Pickard. “Please call us.”

The body was discovered less than 2 miles from where Cheryl’s car was found.

Neighbors near the crime scene along Cedar Way are stunned.

“That freaks me out cause that’s right next to my house,” said Renee Valencia. “I live like right down the street.”

“It has shocked us,” said Erroll Howard. “I just live down the street, three doors down.”

Police said they are analyzing Cheryl’s phone records and scouring surveillance video looking for clues.

Even though investigators still don’t know what happened to Cheryl, they are stressing the public isn’t in any danger.

“At this time we don’t see a concern for people’s safety or threats to others,” said Pickard.

Investigators are pleading for the public to help solve this case. Anyone with information is asked to call the Mountlake Terrace Police Department.