Cops have tentative ID on homicide victim

Staff report

youngstown

Police have an idea of the identity of a woman found early Monday in a pool of blood on a side road off of West Avenue.

Lt. Doug Bobovnyik of the detective bureau said Tuesday that investigators are awaiting confirmation and notification of the woman’s family before releasing her name.

Bobovnyik said the woman was found by an officer who patrols the department’s downtown beat just after 8 a.m. Monday on the road, which leads to the banks of the Mahoning River.

He said the woman was about 30 years old and had several addresses throughout the area. Investigators believe she had been staying with someone in the city for the past couple of weeks.

Bobovnyik said the body had been there for some time but less than 24 hours.

Anyone with any information is asked to call the detective bureau at 330-742-8911 or 330-742-8926.

The woman’s death is the 13th homicide in the city this year. Youngstown had 26 homicides in 2012 and 21 by this time last year.