Police hope tattoos will help identify dead woman

New Jersey State Police released pictures of two distinctive tattoos today they hope might help identify a woman who was found dead along the banks of the Delaware River in Burlington County.

Kayakers discovered her body Saturday in Mansfield Township. Authorities believe the woman, who was 18 to 24 years old, had been in the water for less than a week.

The tattoos depict a phoenix on her shoulder blade and flowers on one of her ankles. The woman was 5-foot-2, 120 pounds and had dark hair.

The Burlington County Medical Examiner conducted an autopsy Sunday but was unable to cause and manner of death. Toxicology tests are still pending, said Sgt. Stephen Jones, a state police spokesman.

The state police Major Crimes Unit and Bordentown police are investigating. Anyone with information is asked to call state police at 609-298-1171.