Authorities say the human remains found in a suitcase in southern New Jersey last weekend were those of a woman who was strangled.

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Acting Atlantic County Prosecutor Jim McClain announced Tuesday that the death of Tara Rogers Alicea has been ruled a homicide.

The remains of the 30-year-old Monroeville resident were found Sunday afternoon by an off-duty police officer who was hunting in a wooded area of Egg Harbor Township. The officer's name and the police department he works for were not disclosed.

McClain said Alicea initially was identified from photographs of her tattoos that were released to the public.

Authorities are still trying to determine when and where Alicea was killed and how long her remains had been in the woods.

(Copyright 2014 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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