Police ID body found in trash can

TAOS, N.M. (KRQE) - Police have positively identified the body of woman found dead in a trash can in Taos County as a missing woman from Valencia County.

Dental records confirmed that the remains belong to Gladys Garcia, 33. She went missing in July 2007.

Investigators released pictures of a tattoo on the woman's leg in hopes of identifying the body.

Garcia's mother called investigators after the seeing the photos.

Investigators also confirm that the trash can, which contained Garcia, was actually a
Valencia County residential receptacle. However it wasn’t assigned to a specific residence.

The cause of death hasn't been confirmed.

Garcia was originally from Albuquerque, but had been living in Peralta for three years before she disappeared.

Investigators are handling the case as a homicide.