MARICOPA, Ariz. — The body of a missing woman was found earlier this month in a landfill west of Maricopa, according to authorities.
The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office said the body of 38-year-old Crystal Uptain was found in the Butterfield Station Landfill, in Mobile, Arizona on Dec. 5.
Uptain's death has been determined to be a homicide after the sheriff's office said there were "suspicious circumstances involving the scene."
The woman's body also had "unexplained injuries," the sheriff's office said.
Uptain was previously reported missing by the Maricopa Police Department on Nov. 25.
Uptain lived in a neighborhood just east of Maricopa. She was described by those in the neighborhood as being nice and helpful.
Neighbors said they had seen police searching Uptain's home two days ago. Investigators stayed at the home for hours.
Those same neighbors also said Uptain had some health problems and didn’t leave the house that much.
When 12News knocked on the door to Uptain’s home, the man who answered said he wasn’t being told anything about the investigation.
No arrests have been made in Uptain's death at this time.
This a developing story; additional details will be added as they become available.
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