The murdered woman discovered in the pickup of 26-year-old Bernard Howell in Tenino on Sunday night has been identified as Vanda Boone, a 60-year-old woman who lived in the Yelm area.

According to Thurston County Coroner Gary Warnock, Boone died from a cut throat, as well as blunt force injuries to her head and neck. Asphyxia by strangulation or smothering also contributed to her death.

Boone, a massage therapist at Radiance Herbs and Massage in downtown Olympia, moved to the area this past March, from New York.

The Olympian reports that Boone had no known surviving relatives. A brother, who lived in Brazil, died recently.

Howell was pulled over Sunday night with Boone's body in his pickup. He told police he'd found the dead body on the Chehalis Western Trail a few hours earlier. According to court papers, Howell admits to having had sex with the body.

Deputies have said that Boone was killed on the Yelm-Tenino trail near Highway 507 and Mull Road.