Woman found dead inside stolen vehicle in Oakland had been shot

OAKLAND — A woman found dead Saturday morning in a stolen SUV in West Oakland died from a gunshot wound, an autopsy has determined, and her death has been classified as a homicide, authorities said Wednesday.

Police and the coroner’s office are still trying to identify the woman.

Police responding to an anonymous phone caller about 5:45 a.m. Saturday found the woman dead inside an SUV that was parked alongside some railroad tracks off the 2600 block of Wood Street.

Police said the SUV had been reported stolen two days earlier in Oakland.

Because of the condition of the woman’s body, police needed an autopsy to confirm her cause of death. The autopsy was conducted Tuesday.

Investigators were still working to determine a motive for the killing and were probing whether it was connected to the vehicle theft.  No arrests were announced.

Police and Crime Stoppers of Oakland are offering up to $10,000 in reward money for information leading to the arrest of the killer.  Anyone with information may call police at 510-238-3821 or 510-238-7950 or Crime Stoppers at 510-777-8572.