An Affton woman’s death that police initially called “suspicious” is now being investigated as a homicide.

Police identified the victim Friday morning as Joan Furlong, 65, of the 8400 block of Hampstead Drive in Affton, near Affton High School.

Officers from the Affton Southwest Precinct found Furlong’s body at approximately 4:01 p.m. Thursday during a welfare check at her house.

She was pronounced dead at the scene with injuries to her upper body. Police initially announced her death was suspicious, but gave no more details, including how she might have died.

Furlong had last been seen late Monday night at work. Police also announced that they recovered her car, a 2000 white Jeep Cherokee with Missouri license plate SB9D8S, which had been taken from her house.

Police are asking that anyone with information about Furlong’s death call the St. Louis County Police Department at (636) 529-8210 or CrimeStoppers at (866) 371-TIPS (8477).