Police identify body found in drainage culvert at vacant Kmart in West Valley City

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WEST VALLEY CITY — Police have identified the body of a woman that was found in a drainage culvert at a vacant Kmart in West Valley City last week.

A survey crew discovered the body of Cami Shepherd, 43, while they were examining the property for new construction on April 6, according to an emailed statement from West Valley City spokeswoman Roxeanne Vainuku.

The vacant building is located at 1770 W. 4100 South. A dive team and Unified fire officials helped extract the body, which was floating in several feet of water.

Shepherd had been missing since Feb. 2, when family members reported that they had not heard from her for longer than usual.

Shepherd’s cause of death has not been determined. Officials with the State Medical Examiner’s office conducted an autopsy on April 7. There were no obvious signs of trauma following the autopsy, according to Vainuku.

The Medical Examiner’s office was also conducting a toxicology screening, but the results of those tests will not be available for several more weeks, Vainuku said.

Police were actively investigating Shepherd’s disappearance when her body was found, Vainuku said. The case remains under investigation.