The girl was missing around 6:30 p.m. in the area of Chapman St. in New Carlisle, Indiana, was missing and according to a press release from St. Joseph County Metro Homicide Unit Assistant Commander Dave Wells was found dead about two hours later.
New Carlisle is about 25 miles west of South Bend.
According to the release, an autopsy is planned for Sunday.
The department is not currently disclosing names or additional details, Wells said.
Police are asking anyone with information about the case to call the murder unit as the investigation is ongoing.
Neighbors who live in the complex near the forest where the girl was found call the incident ‘disturbing’.
“Very disturbing, very scary, these days with things going on, you do not know what’s going to happen. It could happen anywhere, at any time,” neighbor Allie Sadler told CNN’s subsidiary WBND. “I think it was suddenly quiet here.”