Update, 1:25 p.m.

Howard County police have identified the body found Sunday afternoon in North Laurel as that of 49-year-old Staci Marie Watkins.

Foul play is not suspected, police said. An autopsy is pending.

Original article:

The body of a woman was found Sunday in the woods off of the 9000 block of U.S. Route 1 in North Laurel, authorities said.

According to Howard County police, a man called 911 around 4 p.m. to report that he had seen the body while walking in the woods.

Officials believe it may be that of a woman in her 40s reported missing several weeks ago by a friend.

There were no obvious signs of foul play, police said, but an investigation is ongoing.