BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. -- Three children came home from school this week and their mother wasn't home. It was only after 36 hours of searching that investigators found her dead under a pile of clothes.

The three children were staying with their grandparents, Thursday, while detectives begin a murder investigation. Detectives have discovered one clue in the murder of Sherri Carman.

Deputies brought in blood spatter experts from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to look at the crime scene inside the house on Virginia Drive, just north of Titusville. Outside, there has been a steady stream of tears and disbelief.

Sherri Carman's friends broke down once they saw for themselves that the 29-year-old's home was now a crime scene.

"I just want to know why," said friend Brandi Gorman.

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The first sign of trouble came Tuesday, when Carman's children arrived home from Mims Elementary School and their mother and her car were gone. The children stayed with a neighbor until Wednesday morning, when Carman's boyfriend arrived home from work and reported her missing.

When deputies arrived Wednesday, they found blood in her bedroom. Deputies initially backed out to preserve evidence of what they believed might be a murder and, late Wednesday night, they discovered her body hidden by clothing in a laundry room and confirmed the Carman family's worst fears.

"They don't think they know that their mommy is gone forever yet. I think they still believe that they are looking for her and she is just missing," said Lisa Baisden, the victim's aunt.

Her friends said she was a stay-at-home, do-it-yourself mom, who spent her time caring for her children and remodeling the house she grew up in. Her family said she had no enemies.

"I don't know why somebody would do something like this to her. She was a good girl. She would do anything for anyone and has," Baisden said.

Police found her blue Chrysler in Orlando. It was brought back to Brevard County and is being examined. Police said they have identified two men and a woman who were in possession of the Chrysler in the last 24 hours. They interviewed them Thursday, but would not identify them.