Frozen Body May Be That Of Missing Woman

UPDATED: 12/06/10 2:16 p.m.

PALOS PARK, Ill. (STMW/WBBM) - An unidentified woman was found frozen and dead in a ditch in southwest suburban Palos Park early Monday.

The white female in her 50s was found dead at the scene near South 86th Avenue and 127th Street, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's office spokesman.

Although an autopsy had been scheduled for Monday, the body was too frozen for an autopsy to be performed, a medical examiner's office spokesman said.

Cook County Sheriff's police spokeswoman Liane Jackson said the woman was found about 10:40 p.m. Sunday.

The woman was found lying face up in a 4-foot ditch and partially frozen in ice, including her head, sources said.

She was fully clothed and no signs of trauma were found on her body.

Authorities believe she may be a woman reported missing, sources said.

Police on Sunday issued a missing persons alert for 51-year-old Paula Spika, last seen at 11 p.m. Saturday near 123rd Street and 86th Avenue. Spika is 5-foot-7 and 140 pounds with brown/hazel eyes. She was wearing a light green jacket when she was last seen.

Sheriff's police could not immediately confirm the woman was Spika and said the investigation was ongoing.

The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.