Woman found murdered behind a Gladstone apartment complex

GLADSTONE, Mo. - A Gladstone woman was found dead Wednesday night.

Police said 52-year-old Nancy J. Bowman was found at 6 p.m. behind the Mountain View Apartments, 41 Northeast 60th Terrace. She had been stabbed to death. It's the city's third homicide of the year.

Police said Bowman lived in the complex.

Neighbors say they smelled a foul smell coming from the wooded area behind the building on Sunday but thought it was a dead animal.

Detectives say Bowman had not been seen for at least three days, and a missing person's report was filed on Tuesday.

Officers began interviewing neighbors and canvassing the area.  After Bowman's body was found, detectives determined that it had been left there for several days.

Police do not have any suspect information and are asking anyone who has information on Bowman's last whereabouts to call the TIPS hotline at 816-474-TIPS.