A missing Oregon mum-of-three's remains were found outside a barn in a remote area of Washington State, with police believing she had been "moved" there after being killed by blunt force trauma to the head.
The body of Joanna Speaks, 32, was found outside a barn in Ridgefield, Washington, with Clark County Sheriff's Office saying her death was being investigated as a homicide.
Speaks' stepsister, Ariel Hamby, expressed her shock at the gruesome discovery.
"It keeps me up at night thinking that whoever did this to her, blunt force trauma to the head and neck, I mean that is violent, and that person is walking around,” said Ariel Hamby via the New York Post.
Joanna leaves behind three children, Juan, 13, Braxton, 12, and Meilani, seven.
Ariel had the task of breaking the news to Juan and Braxton, while Meilani was told by her dad.
She said: "It was one of the most difficult and heart-wrenching things we've ever had to do."
Recalling the moment they were told of Joanna's death on April 11, Ariel said: "Our family was blindsided by a call that would break us to pieces. A call informing us that our sister, who is a daughter and a mother of three, was found deceased."
Ariel has set up a GoFundMe page on behalf of the family to help cover the cost of her cremation and burial.
She said: "Her children have made it clear that they would like to keep a piece of her with them, but also have a place to visit where her name and life will be engraved and never forgotten; We're hoping that we can at least give them that."
Joanna was just weeks away from her 33rd birthday, which she was set to celebrate on April 28.
In an update on April 18, Ariel thanked those who had donated, helping the family smash their original $2,500 goal.
She said: "Her children will be forever thankful for the closure they will receive by having an intimate service for her."
She went on to call the events surrounding Joanna's death "nightmarish circumstances", and said: "Due to the excessive decomposition of her body, she was unable to be viewed.
"She was left behind a barn on an abandoned property, but had died elsewhere.
"We're seeking and praying for answers to who did this to our incredible sister and a mother to three amazing children. These kids will never get a chance to have a relationship with their mother, that was taken from them."
Ariel explained that Joanna had a history of "battling addiction", however, she said: "it was reported and confirmed that within the last three weeks of her life she had been seeking housing and guidance to get clean and be apart of her children's life."
In a statement, Clark County Sheriff's Office said: "The deceased was located near an abandoned barn at 8004 S 5th St and there are indications the body was moved to this location.
"This is being investigated as a homicide and no further details regarding the circumstances of the body are being released at this time."
The sheriff's office are asking anyone who is "aware of any suspicious people or vehicles" at or near the location the body was found "during the last few weeks" as well as anyone who has been in recent contact with Joanna, or has information regarding where she has been staying or who she has been associating with..
Speaking to local news outlet KGW8, Ariel said: "It keeps me up at night thinking that whoever did this to her, blunt force trauma to the head and neck, I mean that is violent, and that person is walking around."
Ariel and Joanna's older sister Robyn Speaks told the network Joanna had been battling addiction on and off for years, and that the last time her family had any contact with her was March.
"We have amazing memories with her," Ariel said. "She was a big kid. She was hilarious, sarcastic, and super witty.
"She's now the missing piece of our family that completed us. And we'll never forget her and we will never let our kids forget her."
The family are eager to find justice for Joanna, with Robyn saying: "We're not a family that gives up and we won't give up finding answers... doing whatever we have to get some sort of peace for her."
