Body found alongside I-75 near Colonial Blvd

About a dozen crime scene investigators combed the grasses off the southbound lane of Interstate 75 near the Colonial Boulevard entrance ramp for hours Tuesday, stalling traffic in their search for clues related to a woman's death.

They covered a third of a mile within 45 minutes, looking for anything that might lead to how the woman's body came to rest among tall weeds about 50 feet from the roadway.

A state mowing crew discovered the body around 10 a.m., said Debbie Tower, a spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Transportation.

The LCSO Public Information Office said it would not release any information Tuesday.

A video taken by a reporter, one of the first on the scene, showed a partially clothed female lying on the ground, her legs bare.

A LCSO deputy declined to answer questions about the identity of the victim, how long the body may have there or whether the death was suspicious.

As the search of the area continued, many of searchers carried bottles and took swigs of water after a noon shower dumped almost 2 inches of rain and raised the humidity and temperature well into the low 90s.

Lee County Sheriff's Office investigators kicked over palm tree fronds and looked beneath them as they traveled at least a mile in search of evidence.

The medical examiner arrived on scene around 2 p.m. and removed the body a short time later.

According to the FDOT, 2013 traffic counts showed I-75 carries 68,500 vehicles daily near Colonial. The Florida Highway Patrol investigated a crash involving an 18-wheeler whose driver paid too much attention the scene.

Tower said state crews mow the area of Colonial Boulevard about once a month.

The LCSO Crime Scene Unit left shortly after 6 p.m. leaving behind a captain who then crossed the southbound lanes and began searching the grass in the median.

This is the second body found in Lee County in four days. Thomas J. Bergstrom, 51, who lived in a Cape Coral homeless encampment, was found by a friend on Saturday at his makeshift compound. Bergstrom was stabbed to death. Yoel Munoz, 13, was arrested and charged in the death.

The medical examiner arrived on scene around 2 p.m. and removed the body a short time later.

According to the FDOT, 2013 traffic counts showed I-75 carries 68,500 vehicles daily near Colonial. The Florida Highway Patrol investigated a crash involving an 18-wheeler whose driver paid too much attention the scene.

Tower said state crews mow the area of Colonial Boulevard about once a month.

The LCSO Crime Scene Unit left shortly after 6 p.m. leaving behind a captain who then crossed the southbound lanes and began searching the grass in the median.

This is the second body found in Lee County in four days. Thomas J. Bergstrom, 51, who lived in a Cape Coral homeless encampment, was found by a friend on Saturday at his makeshift compound. Bergstrom was stabbed to death. Yoel Munoz, 13, was arrested and charged in the death.