Pierre police identify female body found near Missouri River

Authorities have identified the woman whose body was found along the Missouri River in Pierre this week.

Police say the body of 40-year-old Lola Bear Stops was found just off the Lewis and Clark Trail near the Down’s Marine Peninsula by a person walking a dog.

Capt. Bryan Walz says identification was made through a fingerprint analysis sent to the South Dakota state forensic lab.

Walz says the cause and manner of death may not be known until final autopsy tests are returned in six to eight weeks. He says now that police have learned her identity, detectives can contact family and friends to try to find out what happened to her.