Woman found dead behind Bethany grocery store remembered

A body found in a duffel bag in Bethany has been identified as 19-year-old Carina B. Saunders. Police believe Cody Perez, 21, of Oklahoma City, might be connected to her disappearance.

Saunders’ body was found Thursday by animal welfare workers checking for feral cats behind the Homeland at NW 23 and Rockwell Avenue.

Bethany Police Chief Phil Cole released Saunders’ identity Monday night after dental records were matched. Medical examiner’s spokeswoman Amy Elliott said Tuesday an autopsy is not complete, but Saunders’ death has been ruled a homicide. The cause of the death is pending, Elliott said.

An Oklahoma City missing person report was filed Oct. 10 by Saunders’ cousin. The report states that she had been dropped off in west Oklahoma City and left with a man on Sept. 28.

Some of the people who knew Saunders took to social media to remember the former Mustang High School student.

A profile of Saunders’ killer could be developed soon at the FBI headquarters in Quantico, Va.

Clues about Saunders’ death will be sent to FBI profilers in a behavioral analysis unit, said FBI Special Agent Clay Simmonds in Oklahoma City.

The FBI offered similar assistance to state investigators in the 2009 killing of the two girls in Weleetka, Simmonds said.

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