Woman's Body Found Outside Oakland Park House: BSO

Authorities are investigating after the body of a woman was found in Oakland Park Wednesday morning.

The body was discovered in the yard of a home in the 500 block of Northwest 41st Street just after 7 a.m., Broward Sheriff's Office officials said.

The victim was later identified as 17-year-old Amaya Cruz.

Her best friend Khadija James said the teen was getting her life together after finding a job and going back to school.

"There's no comfort," James said. "That's my friend, nobody can bring her back. That's my friend, you can't replace a friend."

Friends and family said Cruz knew another Oakland Park teen who was found dead on Tuesday at a nearby apartment building. Nicole Franco, 19, was found at the Bridgewater Place apartments after she called 911 to report a burglary. BSO said they do not suspect the two deaths are related, but that foul play was involved in both.

Detectives took a green car from the scene they say belongs to the victim's boyfriend, who has been questioned extensively. No suspect has been named in the investigation.

"I don't have the details as to what happened to her, who she was with, how she ended up outside the property -- all of that is currently under investigation," said BSO spokeswoman Keyla Concepcion. "Hopefully, once our detectives are able to talk to everyone who was there they'll be able to put it together and come up with a theory of what happened.

Anyone with any information is urged to call BSO Detective Walter Foster at 954-321-4210. Anonymous tips can be called into Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS (8477) or www.browardcrimestoppers.org. A reward of up to $3,000 is available for information leading to an arrest.

Check back with NBC 6 South Florida and NBC6.com for updates.

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