SALINE COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Saline County are investigating a murder.

Just after 8 p.m. on Saturday, 57-year-old Lori J. Heimer was found dead inside her residence at 10525 S. Hopkins Road five miles southeast of Assaria, according to Saline County Undersheriff Roger Soldan.

“It is believed that she died earlier in the day and it appears to be a homicide,” Soldan said.

He declined to comment on the manner or cause of Heimer’s death, but did ask for the public’s help in the case.

If anyone saw anything in the area of the crime that looked out of place or suspicious, they need to contact the authorities immediately, according to Soldan.

No arrests have been made in the case and a specific suspect has not been identified.

“We are asking residents in the area to lock their doors and be aware of their surroundings,” he said.

The Sheriff’s Office is being assisted in the investigation by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. Their Crime Scene Response Team, as well as nine KBI agents and a civilian KBI employee, were still working at the scene Monday morning. An investigator from the Saline County Attorney’s Office is also involved.

Soldan said the Saline County Mounted Patrol assisted in a search of the area, but he declined to give specifics on the search.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Saline County Sheriff’s Office at 785-826-6500 or the Kansas Bureau of Investigation at 1-800-KSCRIME.