ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – A body found Tuesday near Ziegler Road in Orange County has been identified as that of Melanie Mesen Medina, 15, officials said.
Medina had withdrawn from Corner Lake Middle School on Thursday, Orange County Public Schools officials said. The teen was an eighth-grade student.
"This is tragic," said Orange County sheriff's spokeswoman Jane Watrel.
Watrel said Medina lived in the northeast portion of Orange County -- about 25 miles away from where her body was found. Investigators are asking anyone with any information about her activities or associates to contact them.
News 6 asked investigators whether Medina was reported missing or whether she may have fallen victim to human trafficking.
"We are looking at every lead possible," Watrel said. "I am not privy to what our homicide detectives are looking for, but I do know that the sheriff has told him to use whatever means you can to find out who did this."
Deputies said a passerby called at 8:29 a.m. Monday and reported seeing the body of a fully clothed female, believed to be in her 20s, on the side of the Ziegler Road.
Authorities have ruled her death a homicide.
Officials said Ziegler Road is a cut-through street to Sandlake Road. Deputies said neighbors told them that they did not hear anything out of the ordinary Monday night.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crimeline at 1-800-423-8477. There is a $5,000 reward being offerred for information leading to an arrest.
Stay with ClickOrlando.com for more on this developing story.