OXFORD TWP. – A dead body found last week by an Oakland County Sheriff’s deputy in a wooded area near Hummer Lake and Metamora roads is believed to be a missing local woman, however, a positive identification has not yet been made.

Officials believe they discovered the remains of 63-year-old Theresa Adams on the morning of Thursday, Aug. 18.

The sheriff’s office continues to investigate the death and efforts are being made to positively identify the body through DNA testing.

“It may take up to 30 days or more to positively identify the body,” Lenz said.

The cause of death has been ruled undetermined, according to an updated autopsy report released Monday by the county Medical Examiner’s Office.

Investigators said foul play is not suspected at this time. Sgt. Frank Lenz, of the sheriff’s Oxford Twp. substation, said he believes the “undetermined” status is due to the body’s heavy decomposition.

“That’s just speculation, but if they can’t figure out the cause of death and there’s no trauma to the body . . . . if they can’t definitively say what the cause was, then they label it as undetermined,” Lenz said.

Physical characteristics of the body matched those of Adams, authorities said.

Adams disappeared from the Deerwood Manner group home at approximately 9:20 a.m. on Aug. 5. The home is located at 1095 Hummer Lake Rd.

At the time of her disappearance, officials said Adams had walked away from the group home in the past, but had always been found walking on roadways within several hours.

She was entered into the Law Enforcement Information Network as a missing/endangered person as she was said to be easily lost and disoriented when she is in unfamiliar areas, and because she requires medication.