Police said a body was found in the Pacific Ocean surf near the site where five members of the Hart family were found dead last month at the bottom of a coastal cliff in Northern California.

The Mendocino County Sheriff's Office said the body appeared to belong to a black female, but its age and identity couldn't be determined. A DNA analysis could take several weeks.

Members of the Hart family still missing include Hannah Hart, 16; and Sierra Hart, 12; as well as their brother, Devonte Hart, 15.

Major search operations for the missing children had been called off in recent days because of a major storm hitting the California coast, though police continue to search the shoreline.

The body found Saturday was reported to the Westport Fire Department by a vacationing couple just before 2 p.m. Another bystander pulled the body from the surf onto the beach before firefighters arrived to recover it.

The cause of death could not be determined. An autopsy will be conducted Tuesday.

Police believe all six of the Hart children were in the vehicle at the time of the crash, which they have described as an intentional act. The crashed SUV was spotted by a passerby and reported to police on March 26.

Jennifer Hart was driving the SUV, police have said, while the bodies of her wife, Sarah Hart, and three of their six adopted children were found in the vehicle.

None of the vehicle's occupants were wearing seatbelts, police have said, and the SUV's speedometer was "pinned" at 90 mph when the vehicle was found last month.

Investigators have said no skid marks, or evidence of braking, was found at the crash site, located off a dirt turnout along the scenic Highway 1.

-- Elliot Njus

enjus@oregonian.com

503-294-5034

@enjus