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Body Of Missing Woman Found Inside Crawl Space Of Parents' Home

MALIBU (CBSLA) — A woman reported missing by her family earlier this month has been found dead in her parents home, officials with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said Wednesday.

Julia Christine Snyder
Julia Christine Snyder, 53, was reported missing Feb. 8. (Family photo)

"It's tragic," a neighbor said. "I feel so sorry for her parents."

Neighbors were stunned to learn that 53-year-old Julia Christine Snyder was found dead inside her parents' Malibu home. Detectives said the woman who was reported missing earlier this month was found in a crawl space of a storage closet. Officers previously searched the property, but did not find her body until Wednesday.

"It appears to investigators that there are no signs of trauma or foul play," Lt. Barry Hall said. "This is preliminary at this point. She has not been examined by the coroner's office or anything. We'll know more once they remove her from the resting place."

Investigators said the woman suffered from bipolar disorder, but were unsure of how she died. A Malibu city councilman described her as a kind woman.

"She was generally very happy and well-situated, and sadly her home burned in the fire, but her father was rebuilding the home," Jefferson Wagner said.

Officers were still waiting for the coroner to arrive Wednesday night to remove the woman's body from the home and determine how she died.

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