ST. JOSEPH COUNTY — body of Dawn Marie Smith was found dead, St. Joseph County Assistant Police Chief Bill Thompson told NewsCenter 16.

Police were searching for the 54-year-old woman from Granger Wednesday afternoon. She had last been heard from by phone near Watervliet prior to being found. Officers said she was headed toward Coloma Monday evening.

Smith’s body was found outside a home in Milton Township in Cass County. Her vehicle had lost a wheel, and she was likely trying to get to a home for help, according to Thompson.

Police believe she died from exposure, but her official cause of death is under investigation by Michigan authorities.

Relatives reported Smith missing Monday night, thinking she may have become disoriented.

Smith was driving a silver 2004 Honda Odyssey police initially said “may have become disabled on a secondary road” in a Facebook post from Wednesday afternoon.

Source: WNDU