BERNIE -- Stoddard County authorities will have to wait for toxicology results to determine how a Bernie woman, whose body was found in the trunk of her car, died.
Dr. Russell Deidiker performed an autopsy Nov. 20 on Holly Kirkman, 38, in Farmington.
Kirkman's body, Bernie Police Chief Justin Allen said, was found between 11 a.m. and noon Monday, two days after her father reported her missing.
"The preliminary (findings) came back unsuccessful," said Stoddard County Coroner Kenny Pope. "We are going to have to wait for toxicology," which will take about six weeks.
No "death threatening" trauma was found on Kirkman's body, Pope said.
Although the autopsy was inconclusive, "I think we have a pretty good idea now of what's going on," Pope explained. "... Even though it was unsuccessful, it did shed some light on the outcome of this case."
At the time Kirkman was reported missing Saturday, "she had been gone for a few days; (her father) hadn't seen her since (Nov.) 8," Allen said.
Kirkman's father, he said, didn't have any idea where his daughter might have gone.
"She sometimes disappears for days at a time, but not this long," Allen said.
Stoddard County Chief Deputy Andy Holden said the Bernie Police Department requested assistance from the sheriff's department investigating the missing person case.
"I sent three of my detectives down there," Holden said. "They began running some leads; it wasn't too long after we got down there, she was located (deceased) in the truck of her car at her residence" on Walter Avenue.
Holden said officers believed Kirkman was in her vehicle "the whole time to our knowledge."
After Kirkman's body was found, Holden said, the Stoddard County Major Case Squad was activated to investigate Kirkman's death.
"People go missing; sometimes, they are even found deceased," Holden said. "People wander off" but the "odd circumstances" of Kirkman's disappearance is "why we activated the Major Case Squad."
Officers, Holden said, processed the scene at her house.
"We conducted a neighborhood canvas and spoke with friends, family, acquaintances of her," Holden said.
Both Holden and Allen said officers were awaiting autopsy results to see if a cause of death could be identified and were hopeful they would know more at that time.
"We haven't found out anything" from the autopsy; however, "there are some leads we've got to follow today and see if anything comes from them," Allen said.
The Major Case Squad, Holden said, still is activate, and its investigation is continuing.