The state medical examiner's office will conduct an autopsy Tuesday morning on the body of a woman found dead Monday at a Hood River county recreation area.



Hood River County Sheriff's deputies were dispatched to the Family Man Staging Area at 1 p.m. on a report of suspicious activity said Sheriff Matt English.



The staging area is a starting point for all-terrain vehicle riders, walkers, runners and mountain bikers 6 miles southwest of town, English said, and is maintained by Hood River County. When police arrived they found fresh blood on the snow and a trail of blood leading north out of the parking lot.



About 1/4 mile away deputies found a woman's body, the victim of a homicide, English said.



The Mid-Columbia Major Crimes Team along with investigators with the Oregon State Police Forensics Lab were dispatched to the scene, where they worked into the night on the investigation, English said



English said additional details -- including the woman's name, age, hometown and cause of death -- will be released when it becomes available.





-- Stuart Tomlinson

stomlinson@oregonian.com

503-221-8313

@ORweather