By Shavonne Walker

shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — The Rowan County 911 Center received a call around 6:30 a.m. today from someone who had been traveling Leonard Road and saw a woman’s body off to the side of the road, in the 3000 block.

The Rowan County Sheriff’s Office and Miller’s Ferry Fire Department were dispatched immediately to give possible aid, but the woman was dead, authorities said.

Investigators collected evidence at the crime scene and spoke with neighbors until about 11 a.m. when officials opened Leonard Road back up.

Authorities have not identified the woman or released details about her cause of death.

Of the handful of houses on Leonard Road, none are closer to where the body was found than Don McIntyre’s. He said the neighborhood is generally quiet and there are only seven houses on Leonard Road.

He speculated that the woman could have been killed elsewhere and her body left in the wooded area. Authorities have not provided specific details as to what happened.

At the same time, he said, “it’s not up to me and it’s not up to the rest of us that are not law enforcement to make judgments on what did happen.”

He said authorities will provide details eventually.

Anyone who knows of a female who is missing should call First Lt. Chad Moose, of the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office , at 704-216-8687, or go to http://tips.salisburyrowancrimestoppers.org/ to provide information.