The body found Saturday in Grand Canyon National Park is believed that of a missing Yokohama woman, and Arizona authorities said Monday they believe she was murdered.
An autopsy on a body found in the park, carried out by the Coconino County Medical Examiner's office, concluded the death was a homicide. The sheriff's office declined to disclose any more information at this point because it may "jeopardize the outcome of the case."
Investigative authorities are still confirming the identification of the body through dental records, fingerprints and DNA analysis, but they are comfortable enough to believe the deceased is Tomomi Hanamure, 34, from Yokohama, a spokesman at the sheriff's office said.
Hanamure vanished May 8.
The body was found Saturday in the water near a waterfall about 3 km north of the lodge she had checked into. A major air and ground search had been carried out throughout last week.
Hanamure is believed to have arrived in Los Angeles earlier this month and driven around several tourist spots in California in a rental car before going to Arizona.