A woman whose body was found on Interstate 65 on Columbus’ west side has been identified by police.
The woman’s identity has been confirmed as Araceli Jaimes Macedo, 21, of Lexington, Kentucky, Columbus Police Department public relations officer Lt. Matt Harris said Saturday.
Bartholomew County Coroner Clayton Nolting ruled the cause of death as blunt force trauma to the chest and abdomen after a forensic autopsy Tuesday, but said the manner of death remains under investigation.
The investigation into Macedo’s death continues, and toxicology tests are also pending in the case, police said.
Police initially had trouble learning the identity of the woman, and reached out to the public Tuesday for tips, sending a photo of two distinctive tattoos on her arms to media outlets.
On Wednesday, police released three more photos showing parts of the woman’s body with distinctive tattoos.
The investigation began at 8:45 p.m. Monday when police responded to a report of a deceased woman on the shoulder of northbound I-65, Harris said.
Officers quickly located the woman’s body, and described her as Hispanic with a lip piercing who was 20 to 30 years old. She was wearing a maroon sweatshirt, tan pants and black tennis shoes, Harris said.
The woman was found on what is commonly known as the “rumble strip,” a portion of rough pavement that warns drivers they are leaving the roadway, Harris said.
Officers are working on several possible scenarios about how the woman arrived at the location, including possibilities she was walking on the interstate or dropped off there for some reason, Harris said. No vehicle was found at the scene, he said.
Anyone with tips or information connected to this case is urged to contact the Columbus Police Department at 812-376-2600. Tips and information may be left anonymously.
