RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) -- Richmond police are investigating the murder of a woman found in the 1300 block of Hopkins Road in South Richmond Monday.

Police released a sketch of the victim Wednesday afternoon in hopes someone that knows here will come forward.

Kevin Carroll, Chesterfield President of the Fraternal Order of Police said not being able to identify a victim in a homicide case can bring challenges for police.

"If you can identify the person, you can build backwards from there to determine what happened in her life in the last 48 hours," said Carroll.

While police continue to try and identify who the victim is, Carroll said using markings like tattoos can be an important way to get the public's attention.

"I just assumed that it was a body down there. It was a gut feeling," said Jennifer Wake.

Jennifer Wake, who lived in the neighborhood for two years, described it as "very dicey" with a lot of transient traffic because of the nearby bus stops.

"You have a lot of people walking 2, 3 o'clock in the morning. That's why I left the neighborhood. I didn't like it," said Wake.

Police told CBS 6 that a passerby collecting can discovered the woman's body along a ravine in a remote area underneath a foot bridge.

The murder victim is described as an African-American woman with a thin build, approximately 4'10" and in her 20s.

Her hair had a buzz cut. She was wearing a grey t-shirt that had "Free and Proud" written on it. In addition she had on a black Nike basketball jersey for the Philadelphia 76ers, "3" Allen Iverson.

On her arm is a tattoo that reads "Sammy G," and she also has knuckle tattoos. On her right hand knuckles is tattooed "God's" and on her left is tattooed "Gift."

And while Richmond police determine who the victim is and what lead up to her death, curiosity is what brought Jennifer Wake back to the crime scene.

"It was somebody's daughter. Somebody's, maybe mother, sister... that's horrible," said Wake.

Police are asking for anyone with information about this crime or suspect to submit tips anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 804-780-1000.

PREVIOUS:

