The Lake County Coroner's Office today announced the body of a Hammond woman, missing since 1999, and discovered in 2011, is that of Francine Carlson. The Coroner's Office reports Carlson's death has been ruled a homicide, caused by extensive skull fractures due to unspecified blunt force trauma. Hammond Police Chief Brian Miller says Carlson was 38 years old at the time of her disappearance, and that her remains were discovered underneath a condemned bait shop on October 5^th, 2011, in the 17-hundred block of Indianapolis Blvd, after a dog found one of her bones and took it back to its owner, who notified police. Chief Miller says they spoke to over 30 people regarding the case, and identified a then 50 year old man as a suspect, who passed away five-years ago. Chief Miller says he believes the suspect was a friend of the victim, and was probably the last person seen with her.
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