GREENVILLE, S.C. -- The Greenville County Coroner’s Office said a missing girl whose body was found in a closet in a vacant home was sexually assaulted and then suffocated.

The body of 8-year-old Dymia Woody was found in a mobile home at 104 Carly Drive late Monday night.

The discovery was made by a search dog that was helping locate the girl after her mother reported her missing around 10:30 p.m. Monday.

Deputies said the dog found an open door on the vacant mobile home, went inside and found Woody’s body inside a closet.

The coroner’s office said Woody died from asphyxiation because of a breathing obstruction. They said there were also visible signs of sexual assault on Woody’s body.

The coroner’s office said they are being vague about the circumstances surrounding the girl’s death to protect the integrity of the investigation.

Deputies spent much of Tuesday morning collecting DNA and clothing samples from people in the community.

Residents said they are shocked and that Woody was not the type of child to stay out too late. They describe their neighborhood as tight-knit, where everyone knows each other.

"This is horrible," said Renee Woody, Dymia's mother. "I wouldn't wish this on anybody, and I don't know why this happened. I just want answers. That's all."

As of 4 p.m. Tuesday, deputies had not made an arrest in the case.

Stay with FOX Carolina and foxcarolina.com for the latest information.