South Dakota Mother Found Dead In The Garage Of An Apartment Building Three Weeks After Vanishing

A South Dakota mother who vanished in early June has been found dead in a garage.

Angela Armstrong, 45, vanished at around midnight on June 3, according to a release from the Sioux Falls Police Department. On Tuesday, three weeks after the disappearance, Armstrong's car, a gray Chevy Traverse, was found in a garage with a body nearby, police said in an update this week.

Authorities have since confirmed that the body found near the car was that of the missing mother, local outlet KELO reports. Her cause and manner of death are still unclear, pending an autopsy report; a toxicology report is also in the works and may take between four and six weeks to complete, according to the outlet.

While police did not note the presence of any "obvious trauma" to Armstrong's body or "suspicious circumstances" surrounding the situation, her death is being categorized as an "unattended death," which requires an investigation, local police told the Sioux Falls Argus Leader.

Armstrong, a mother of three, disappeared after leaving her home and telling her son that she'd be back; when she failed to return, her loved ones reported her missing, according to a post from the "Missing Angela Armstrong" Facebook page.

"It is unlike Angie to leave and not return home," the post continued. "She is gone. She is missing. She has three children and two of them currently live at home with her. The two youngest children are currently safe at their home with their grandma."

Following extensive searches, Armstrong's car and body were found after someone called police to report a strong smell coming from the garage of an apartment building in southwestern Sioux Falls, according to the Leader.

Armstrong lives in the area where her body was found, but does not own the garage where her car was located, police reportedly said. Her connection to that particular apartment building is unclear.

Prior to the discovery, authorities had been asking residents to keep an eye out for Armstrong's car, to no avail, KELO reports.

“To be found inside a garage, it kind of makes sense that’s why nobody found her car, and we thought that would have been the one thing that people would be able to see, is a car that had been parked in a place for a number of days or weeks even, since it was inside the garage, that’s why nobody was able to see that car,” police spokesman Sam Clemens said, according to the outlet.

Armstrong's loved ones confirmed her passing in an update posted to the "Missing Angela Armstrong" Facebook page.

"It is with broken hearts that we share with you today that Angie Armstrong, mother, daughter and friend was found deceased," the post reads. "She was full of love, hope and life. She was our treasure. As we honor her memory and all of the joy that she brought to us, we want to thank you for your love, support and encouragement as we made our way through the last few weeks."

"In honor of Angie, we ask you to share love and kindness with those near you," the statement continued. "Let's make this world a better place in her honor."