Woman found dead in her car in Federal Way

Federal Way homicide detectives are investigating the death of an elderly woman who was found in her car Wednesday afternoon.

Earlier in the day, the woman's grown son had reported his 75-year-old mother missing, said Cathy Schrock, a Federal Way police spokeswoman.

The son told police he'd last spoken with his mother Tuesday night as she was heading into a residential care facility where her husband was being treated.

Schrock said the son went to the nursing facility after he was unable to reach his mother Wednesday.

Police found the woman's car at about 3:30 p.m. in the residential care facility's parking lot in the 400 block of South 338th Street, Schrock said. The woman's body was inside the vehicle.

Schrock said it was immediately apparent to police that she had died from violence.

"Her body had obvious signs of trauma," said Schrock, who declined to comment further on the woman's injuries.

Personnel with the King County Medical Examiner's Office also responded to the scene and took the woman's remains into custody.

A report on the cause of death is expected in coming days.

Schrock said the woman's relatives were able to identify her body at the scene.

By Wednesday night, detectives had interviewed staff members at the facility and the woman's relatives in an effort to develop leads.

But Schrock said investigators are hopeful others who were in the area Tuesday night might come forward.

Schrock said anyone with information should call 911.