Police ID woman found dead at Cobb County apartment complex

MARIETTA, Ga. — Police say a woman found dead inside a car at a Cobb County apartment complex Tuesday morning was murdered.

Channel 2's Chris Jose was at the Caswyck Trails Apartments on Favors Road in Marietta, where a maroon 2005 Nissan Altima car was parked in the middle of the parking lot.

Jose said it appeared someone tried to back out and the car rolled from where it was parked.

Police identifed the victim as Ericka Stewart, 36, of Marietta.

Police say a neighbor saw the body and called 911. Investigators are still working to track down leads.

Armed security guards are stationed at the gate, but they told Jose they had no idea someone was murdered until more than a dozen police officers arrived

Investigators said their focus now is identifying the victim and finding her killer.

Jose talked to neighbors, who said they woke up Tuesday morning with police outside their door.

"There were so many police, you'd think it was a terrorist attack or something," Keneith Harris said. "They just said they found somebody in the back of the car. Dead."

Neighbors said the victim lived on the second floor.

"I actually knew the girl who was found dead in the car," neighbor Quen Lee said. "Just talked to her like two days ago."

Lee said the victim kept to herself. Police have not released her identity yet, but neighbors are rallying around her family.

"I want to say, 'Sorry for your loss,'" Lee said. "I want you to stay strong."

Investigators are in the process of questioning potential witnesses.

Around noon, Jose saw officers on motorcycles escort a garbage truck off the property. Police will go through it to see if any evidence was placed inside.

Police are trying to determine if the murder happened inside the car, the apartment or somewhere else.

They have not said if the killer used a gun or any other kind of weapon.

Cox Media Group