Woman found dead on North Alabama porch, sparking discovery of suspicious device

Woman found dead on North Alabama porch, sparking discovery of suspicious device

Florence police are investigating the death of a woman whose body was discovered Monday morning, shortly before the discovery of a suspicious device.

Sgt. Cliff Billingsley said dispatchers received a call at about 7:30 a.m. about a person asleep or passed out on the caller’s front porch, at a home in the 1700 block of Sherrod Avenue.

When officers arrived, they found the body of Hope Lee Ann Graves, 50, dead on the porch.

Detectives arrived at the residence and a search warrant was executed, due to the circumstances. In the middle of the search, according to police, a suspicious device was located, Billingsley said.

The Florence Bomb Squad came to the scene and determined the device was safe. The search of the residence continued.

Graves’ body will be sent to the Alabama Forensic Sciences for an autopsy to help determine the cause of death.