Investigators seek help in woman's death

A young woman's body found near Prairie recently has triggered a massive inter-agency law enforcement investigation trying to determine the cause of her death.

The Elmore County Sheriff's Office is seeking information from anyone who may have seen a maroon 4-door Chevrolet Lumina in the Prairie/Cow Creek/Long Tom area anytime between Sept. 16-26.

Deputy Clint Andrus, the lead investigator, said he became involved after receiving a missing person report. "Our initial report was that the young lady had left the house after an argument. When she didn't return, she was reported as missing."

Search and Rescue units were activated but had little to go on. They began a search of the area near Anderson Ranch.

"Then on Sept. 26, a man hunting by the Prairie area traveled down a side road by a field and came across a burned out vehicle. As he walked by he saw the pelvis area, part of the torso and the skull of a person at the car. He came in and reported it to the sheriff's office," said Andrus.

"When we checked the license plate, it came back to the vehicle that we had been looking for."

Because the young lady, subsequently identified as Victoria Wonsitler, 32, was a military dependent, the sheriff's office had immediate assistance from the base's OSI (office of special investigation).

"We were able to positively identify her through dental and spinal records through the base," said Andrus.

The investigation continues with the help of lots of experts, Andrus said. "We have had the state fire marshal, forensic experts, crime scene investigators from Dover, Del., who had been working on the Pentagon crash, arson investigators from the Boise Fire Department, the OSI -- experts from all over.

"We have taken toxicology samples and are waiting for the results. We know this young lady was probably in a state of depression when she left, but we really don't know much more than that.

"But, we do know the Prairie Road is pretty well traveled and we believe there are people out there who may have seen the vehicle, fire, or maybe just the smoke.

"If there is anyone who might have seen anything between Sept. 16-26 that might be connected with this case, we would like for them to give us a call."

Reports may be made anonymously directly to Andrus' extension at 587-2119, ext. 117.