The family of Danielle Moss held out hope that she would come walking through the door after weeks missing — but they learned she had been found dead.
Moss, a 31-year-old Southeast D.C. resident, was found dead in a wooded area of Waldorf, Maryland, her stepmother and a law enforcement source familiar with the case said.
Her survivors include her 4-year-old son.
What happened to Moss is still a mystery, her stepmother, Gloria Hammond, told News4 on Sunday. She described her as full of life.
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"Danielle was so vibrant. Oh my goodness, she was a beautiful, beautiful personality. Rapping, she loved to dance. I talked to Danielle every day, every day. She was supposed to come over to have dinner with us, but she never made it," Hammond said.
Moss was last seen eight weeks earlier, at a family gathering on April 8. A missing persons flyer from D.C. police said she was last seen in the 2300 block of Q Street SE.
A murder investigation is underway, the Charles County Sheriff’s Office confirmed on Monday.
Someone who was walking near power lines saw “what appeared to be a partially covered body” on Holly Spring Drive, the sheriff’s office said. Officers responded at about 6:40 p.m. Friday.
Moss’ death was ruled a homicide. Her cause of death was not immediately released, nor were any additional details. The investigation is ongoing, the sheriff’s office said.
Hammond said police told her they are speaking with a person of interest.
Moss was a devoted mother who would never choose to leave her son, the child’s father previously said. He and the little boy were on vacation when Moss went missing. He said he sent her photos from their trip but she never responded.
“She has family, friends – I mean, everybody loves her. So I mean, it’s devastating," Andre Hudson said.
Anyone with potentially relevant information is asked to contact police.
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