The body of 42-year-old Marcie Brewton Morgan was found earlier today, officials with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said. Escambia County Sheriff Grover Smith said that investigators had flown an airplane over an area near Canoe several times since Morgan’s initial disappearance on Dec. 3, but had not noticed anything suspicious.

However, Thursday, Smith and other law enforcement officials decided to do a methodical foot search of the area around Jerkins Loop Road, when they discovered Morgan’s missing car at the bottom of a 20-foot ditch.

“It was almost impossible to see, even from the air, because it blended in with the ditch so much,” Smith said.

The blue 2001 Lincoln Town Car left the roadway and found the ditch, just miles from Morgan’s home, Smith said.

“She was more than likely headed home,” Smith said.

Smith said evidence in the case points to a “terrible accident,” but his office would leave the case open.

“We’re staying involved until an autopsy is completed,” he said.

After the car was removed from the ditch, law enforcement officials found Morgan’s body inside.

Richard Morgan said his wife had just completed a doctor’s visit in Mobile on Tuesday, Dec. 3, when she called a family member from the Saraland Walmart, to say that she was on her way home. Marcie Morgan had not been seen, or heard from since.