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Lake County, Indiana, Coroner Asking For Help Identifying Teenage Jane Doe

GARY, Ind. (CBS) -- A teenage girl's body was discovered in an alley in Gary, and police late Tuesday were trying to verify who it was.

As CBS 2's Eric Cox reported, the girl's body was discovered in an alleyway near 20th Avenue and Pennsylvania Street by utility workers Monday morning.

Their coworkers said the teen was found tied to a newly-placed utility pole, and they believe she was beaten to death. The Lake County, Indiana Coroner's office later ruled that she suffered a gunshot and said there was not evidence she was tied to a pole.

"It's just really sad to hear," said one young woman who lives feet from where the body was found.

BREAKING: A teen was found dead in Gary in a gruesome fashion. Utility workers say a young female was found tied next...

Posted by Eric Cox TV on Tuesday, September 17, 2019

The woman asked to remain anonymous. Her backyard was still blocked off by crime scene tape late Tuesday.

"Police stopped us and we had to stay around to answer their questions," she said.

The questions were along the lines of: "Did we see anything? Do we know anything? Did we hear anything?" she said.

The woman's answer to all those questions was no. The Lake County Coroner's office now wants help locating the teen's loved ones.

The coroner says the Jane Doe is an African-American female between 14 and 18 and is about 5 feet two inches tall and 117 pounds. She has short black hair and pierced ears.

She was wearing a blue and white Nike windbreaker in extra small, and large Champion brand blue pants with gray stripes. She also wore a red bra in size 32 B and a pink t-shirt size 14-16 with a Superman emblem with the words "Super Girl Power" on the front.

Gary Deceased Female T-Shirt
A T-shirt that was worn by a girl whose body was discovered in an alley in Gary on Monday, Sept. 16, 2019. (Credit: Lake County Coroner's office)

The Lake County Sheriff sent CBS 2 a photo of a similar T-shirt.

The girl also wore blue and black Nike Air Max Plus gym shoes in size 7.

"She's a child, and someone doesn't have their child anymore, and I know how that feels because I've lost a child," the woman who lives nearby said.

An autopsy was performed earlier Tuesday. The coroner did not confirm what workers said, including how the girl died or the condition in which her body was discovered.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Lake County Coroner's Office at (219) 755-3265.

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