SPRINGFIELD, MASS. (WGGB) — Springfield Police now say a woman whose body was found Wednesday behind the Progressive Community Chapel was the victim of a homicide.

38 year-old Judy Ramirez, whose last known address was 47 Pendleton Ave, was found dead at the bottom of stairs that led to the basement of the church.

Police are asking anyone with information to call 413-787-6355 or “Text-a-Tip”.

February 1st, 2012 Coverage

Springfield, Mass. (WGGB) — The body of a woman has been discovered in the back of a church on State Street in Springfield.

At 1:52 P.M. this afternoon police were dispatched to the rear of 599 State Street, “The Progressive Community Chapel” for a woman that was found in the rear of the building.

Officers spoke with a woman who found the body. Sgt. John Delaney told abc40,  ”She stated that she was walking down to the bottom of the rear stairs leading to the basement of the church to find a place to go to the bathroom. There are about 7 stairs leading to the basement. This is where she found a woman not breathing.” 

Police determined with the responding EMT’s that the female was deceased.

She is a 38 year old female and a resident of the city. She was known to police. Her name is not being released until her next-of-kin is notified.

Delaney says, “The rear stairwell has been used by people as a bathroom and a refuge for using drugs.”

The detectives are treating this investigation as an “unattended death”. The Forensic Officers are on the scene gathering evidence to determine cause of death and are also waiting for the Medical Examiners office to respond. An autopsy will be performed to determine cause of death. The responding officers believe that the body could have been there for “some time”.