UNIONTOWN-Sarah Custard Witherspoon was found dead in an overgrown patch of grass behind the Nite Cats Convenience Store on County Road 53 in Uniontown Friday.

Uniontown Police Chief Danny Rhodes confirmed only that the body was that of a female, saying more information would be available later. The Times-Journal was later able to confirm the woman’s name through the Perry County Coroner’s office.

It’s the third apparent homicide in Uniontown in three weeks.

The bodies of Kenneth Dixie and Lawrence Alvin Smith were found in a soybean field along the same road on June 19. Charlie Bennett has been indicted in those murders.

Friday, a three-block area was roped off with police caution tape and the smell of death was strong in the hot summer air. Members of the Uniontown Police Department including Rhodes, an agent from the ABI and Perry County Coroner George Pullom were on hand to secure the area and start searching for evidence.

Because of the extreme odor, those investigating the scene wore masks over their mouth and nose.

Uniontown Mayor Phillip White, after hearing about the third death in less than three weeks in his city, said it was a sad day for his community.

Just a week ago during a church revival, White told residents here there would be more dead bodies found because people today don’t fear the laws anymore.

“Until the Justice Department does something to put these criminals away, it will only continue to get worse,” White said, “We could put police officers on every corner, but that wouldn’t help either.”

“The killings were very bad here back in 1994,” he said. “Being mayor for the past three and a half years, this is the worst it has been.”