Greek authorities probing the case of a California scientist whose body was found in a cave now suspect her death was a homicide, according to local reports.

Suzanne Eaton, a 59-year-old molecular biologist at the Max Planck Institute in Germany, was found dead late Monday in the town of Chania in Crete, about five miles from where she disappeared while attending a conference, authorities said.

Her body was discovered bruised and covered with burlap in the cave, which authorities believe indicates she was killed, according to the Greek Reporter.

The cave also has a tree hiding the entrance and is difficult to access, the news outlet reported.

The mom of two vanished July 2 from a conference where colleagues became concerned after she missed several sessions, authorities said.

Her family initially said she might have disappeared on a run, since her running shoes weren’t in her room.

The scientist’s niece, Callie Broaddus, posted to “Searching for Suzanne,” a Facebook group dedicated to finding her, that she “cannot comment on anything at this time, but I will post a message here when the time is appropriate.”