Whanganui woman's death treated as murder

Police say they are treating the death of Whanganui woman Marice McGregor as a murder investigation.

Ms McGregor's badly decomposed body was discovered in a ravine 100 metres off State Highway 4 between Whanganui and Raetihi last week.

A post mortem examination last weekend did not establish cause of death, although preliminary findings were that she suffered head injuries.

Ms McGregor, 45, was last seen in her red Suzuki Escudo on State Highway 4, the Parapara Highway, about 40km north of Whanganui, on April 19.

Police central districts communications manager Kim Perks today said Ms McGregor's death was being treated as murder.

"We'd be naive not to treat it as a homicide investigation, but we're still waiting on more information from forensic experts," she said.

- NZPA