Missing Rebecca Brown Update: South Carolina Woman's Body Found, Police Consider Death 'Suspicious'

The body of a 23-year-old South Carolina woman, who had been missing for a week, was found Tuesday.

The police said Rebecca Brown of Sumter was last seen March 17 when she was out with friends. After Brown was reported missing, the police began a ground and air search for the woman with help from SLED (State Law Enforcement Division) and specialized K-9 units.

On Tuesday, Sumter police found the woman's body along the same road where she was last seen. The body was first spotted by a passerby in a grassy area off the road, officers said. Brown's cause of death remains unknown, but the police said it is considered “suspicious” at this time.

An autopsy was scheduled for Wednesday to find the exact cause of death.

The police had described Brown as being about 5-foot-4 and 165 pounds, with brown hair and green eyes. She was last seen wearing blue jeans, black shoes, a blue long-sleeved shirt as well as a black and gray zip-up sweatshirt.

The Sumter Police Department and Sumter County Coroner’s Office were working together to investigate the death of Brown. Authorities said the victim's family has been notified. The police urged the public to come forward with any information related to Brown's death.

Anyone with information about Brown, or who has seen her, is asked to call police at 803-436-2700, or 911 in the case of an emergency.