Autopsy: Machesney Park woman's death a homicide

MACHESNEY PARK (AP) — Police say the death of a northern Illinois woman whose disappearance sparked a massive search has been ruled a homicide.

Winnebago County Sheriff's Police said Tuesday that autopsy results for 30-year-old Katrina Smith of Machesney Park show she suffered "blunt force trauma." The Rockford Register Star reports (http://bit.ly/QEs5LF) an off-duty firefighter fishing on the Rock River found Smith's body Friday in the water near Byron. Smith's husband, 45-year-old Todd Smith, reported her missing. He last saw her Oct. 22 leaving their home. Police have said the couple was separated.

Smith's abandoned vehicle was found the next day and her purse, cell phone and bloody paper towels were found in subsequent days. Daily search parties went looking for Smith.

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