Woman's body found behind bank in Mission Viejo; investigation underway

MISSION VIEJO, Calif. (KABC) -- A woman's body was found behind a bank in Mission Viejo on Thursday afternoon, prompting an investigation in which authorities have deemed her death suspicious.

A 911 caller reported the grim discovery at about 3:15 p.m. in the brush behind a U.S. Bank branch in the 25000 block of Muirlands Boulevard, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Department. A civilian found the slightly decomposed body covered in a blanket at the location, just off the 5 Freeway near La Paz Road.

The deceased woman was not immediately identified, and it was unclear if she died at the scene.

A groundskeeper said the body was not there before Nov. 5, the last time crews tended the landscape outside the bank.

Judy Paskey, who co-owns a nearby salon, was astonished when she learned of the incident.

"The weather's been hot and I can't imagine," she said. "I mean, we walk up here every day to dump our trash. If there was a body there I would think you would have smelled it."

An autopsy is pending to determine the cause of death.