Deputies ID woman who was found in Clermont

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — Lake County sheriff's investigators have identified the woman who was found in a wooded area outside Clermont Friday morning.

The body of Cheri Houston, 28, was discovered by a woman walking near Hancock and Hartwood Marsh roads, investigators said.

“We’re probably one of the closest houses to it,” said neighbor Clifford Keiper. “It’s definitely disturbing when something like that happens.”

Detectives belive that houston was in the Ocoee and Winter Garden areas along the Highway 50 corridor since March 31.

They also siad she was transient and over the past 8-10 weeks, had moved around from Miami to Nashville, Tennessee, on to North Carolina,and then to the Atlanta, Georgia area before coming to the Orlando area.

Investigators do not think her body was in the wooded are for very long before it was found.

"We believe that she has been here less than 24 hours.  This same lady walked the same area yesterday and she is confident the body was not there," said Sheriff's Lt. John Herrell. “It’s very possible that she wasn’t there until after dark.”

A large drop box for donated clothing was dumped over not far from where Houston’s was found.

Authorities said Houston had tattoos of two red triangles on her upper left chest areas and the phrase, "What nourishes me also destroys me," on her left shoulder.

On Friday, they said they hoped the tattoos would help identify who she was.

Area residents said they sometimes see cars parked near the area where the body was discovered. They said the intersection is heavily traveled and that school children often walk through the area.

"It's very worrisome because right about 150 yards from here there is a school. We have kids walking back and forth every day," said resident John Sweeney.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

WFTV