an ... ( associated press ) riverside county coroner ’s office made the determination after a morning autopsy .
 
norma was reported missing about 12:30 p.m. thursday by her older sister , sonja , after she failed to return home from a summer biology class at valley view high school .
 
a body was identified wednesday as that of a 17 - year - old southern california girl who was likely kidnapped while walking to a friend 's home after a summer school class .
exposed to the elements during the recent heat wave , the remains were so decomposed that authorities could not immediately determine the sex of the deceased , let alone whether it was norma 's body , said riverside county sheriff ’s department spokesman sgt .
the body was found tuesday afternoon by a local resident doing yard work in a remote section of town surrounded by wheat fields , just off the 60 freeway .
on tuesday , the sheriff ’s
borja said investigators still have no suspects in the case , although a newer model green suv was seen speeding away from the area where norma disappeared .