The decomposing body of a woman was found in Barton district in St Elizabeth on Tuesday.

The woman, who up to press time was still unidentified, was found in a section of the Black River that runs through the community, the police said.

Initial investigations carried out by detectives have uncovered that the now-deceased was not recognized as being from the community. She was reportedly seen in the district on Saturday in the same area where her body was found, in the company of a man, who was also not from the community.

It was reported that around 5:00 pm yesterday, residents saw the body and called the police. Lawmen who arrived on the scene said the woman appeared to be in her late 30s to early 40s.

The police said she was seen lying face down in the water, clad in a black brassiere, pink underwear and khaki-looking pants. The body had what appeared to be a rose tattoo on the right ankle.

The body was removed from the water with the assistance of the Santa Cruz Fire Department.

Police said no obvious marks of violence were observed on the body. The body was takento the morgue for a post-mortem examination.