The Guardia Civil have confirmed that the dead body in a state of decomposition that was found floating in the sea by Arico on the east coast of Tenerife on Saturday, is that of Laura Gastón, the 66-year-old woman from Belgium who had been reported missing since April 24th.
The body was spotted by a fisherman with signs of violence and with a plastic bag tied around her neck, and apparently, she was missing one hand and both legs.
The preliminary autopsy report has determined that the missing woman suffered a violent death, and the police have opened a murder investigation to try to identify and arrest the person or persons responsible.
Laura and her partner, Marc Francis, aged 71 and also from Belgium, were last seen in the village of Callao Salvaje in Costa Adeje in the south of Tenerife. Marc, who is 1.75 metres (5ft 9 inches) tall and has a slim build with grey hair and green eyes, is still missing.
