The body of a woman who lived in Cayman has been discovered buried in a house in Jamaica.

Detectives think Stacey-Ann “Dionne” Smith died as a result of asphyxiation and have launched a murder inquiry.

The 35-year-old labourer had been living in Cayman and returned to Jamaica at the end of last month.

The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service will be assisting their colleagues in Jamaica with the investigation.

Her body was found Monday after neighbours in Portmore, St Catherine, complained of a bad smell coming from the house.

Police conducted a search of the house and her body was found buried in concrete underneath. An on-the-spot post mortem carried out at the scene revealed Ms Smith may have been strangled.

Locals in the area say the victim may have been involved in an argument with a relative. A woman, believed to be Ms Smith’s sister, has been arrested.

Police discovered the body in a sack, or crocus bag, and cemented into the wall of the property on Landport Way.

St Catherine South Division, Superintendent Clive Blair said the woman was last seen alive almost a week ago.

“We learnt that she has been missing since Wednesday and although an odour was smelled, (the body) was not located until we were called today [Monday, 6 February],” Blair told The Gleaner.

“In all my 20-odd years as a policeman, it is the most gruesome murder that I have ever seen. I mean the body was placed in a crocus bag and cemented in the wall,” Blair added.