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Montgomery police have identified the decomposed body of a woman found last week in a park northeast of Damascus as that of Tannessa Victoria Taylor. The state medical examiner has ruled her death a homicide, said Capt. Paul Starks, police spokesman.

Montgomery County Police were able to identify Taylor through fingerprints, Starks said. The body showed signs of trauma, but Starks said police would not release any further information about the cause of death or the body while the investigation continues.

Investigators think she was buried in a shallow grave in Patuxent River State Park less than three months ago, he said.

Starks said he was not aware of a missing persons report filed for Taylor.

He said police could not confirm Taylor's address, but a state online court database lists Taylor, who was 19, with an address in Southeast Washington, D.C., in January 2009.

Taylor was charged in Prince George's County on Jan. 15, 2009, with attempted burglary, malicious destruction of property and disorderly conduct, according to online court records. A warrant was issued for her arrest on March 13, 2009, for failing to appear in court, according to the online records. She was arrested on Dec. 31 and released on bail on Jan. 1, according to the online court records.

No attorney was listed for Taylor on the online court records.

A hunter scouting out a good location to spot turkeys found the body in a shallow grave less than 100 yards from a dirt parking area in the park on Brown Church Road at about 12:30 p.m. March 6, Starks said. The park is wooded and undeveloped, with no walking paths, but horseshoe prints indicate the park is used for equestrian riding, he said.

Montgomery police are taking the lead in the investigation, which also includes the Maryland State Police and Maryland Natural Resources Police because the body was found in a state park.

Anyone who may have information about the death is asked to call county police homicide detectives at 240-773-5070.