A woman’s body was found Thursday afternoon in a wooded area on Shelby County 97 near Columbiana.

Shelby County Coroner Diana Hawkins identified the deceased as Sheree Gail Valenzuela, 32. Valenzuela’s last known place of residence was in Alabaster.

Around 1:45 p.m., the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a body found on Davis Drive, just off Highway 97.

Shelby County Sheriff Chris Curry called the death suspicious and said the deceased did have “severe trauma to the head.”

“We don’t know how she died, but it appears someone placed her there,” said Curry.

The sheriff’s office is continuing to investigate the death. Anyone with information regarding the case is asked to contact the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office at 669-4181 or by going to www.shelbyso.com and selecting “Report Criminal Activity.