Body found in Glen Iris apartment likely woman reported missing, police say; partner detained

Birmingham officers found a body while responding to a welfare check at a Glen Iris apartment complex Friday that they believe is likely that of a woman reporting missing earlier in the day.

Detectives with the department's Special Victims Unit launched a missing person investigation on 27-year-old Maria Juan, who was last seen Thursday night, said Officer Truman Fitzgerald.

Family members reported Juan missing after finding it suspicious that they had not seen or heard from her since then, Fitzgerald said.

Around 3:30 p.m., South Precinct officers were called to an apartment at The Hillside in the 1500 block of 17th Street South to conduct a welfare check.

Inside, they found an unresponsive woman.

Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service personnel responded to the scene and pronounced the woman dead.

Fitzgerald said officers haven't definitively confirmed that the woman is Juan and police are waiting on the Jefferson County Coroner's Office "however, we strongly believe this may end up being her."

During the investigation, officers learned about some of the people Juan was with Thursday night, which led North Precinct officers to detain a man Friday in downtown Birmingham that police described as a person of interest.

The man, described by Fitzgerald as a "romantic partner of the victim," is being transferred to police headquarters for an interview with homicide detectives.

"Our officers do suspect foul play is involved in the female's death," Fitzgerald said.

Asked if there were any signs of violence in the apartment, the officer said there may have been a "domestic disturbance.

He credited the missing woman's family for giving information that led to officers detaining the man.