Woman's death at Bucks County apartment ruled a homicide: DA

Autopsy reveals Telford woman, 23, was murdered in apartment

"WE NEED JUSTICE" Investigators say they found 23-year-old Mariah Popol's body after a 911 call reporting an unresponsive person. She was inside her apartment above a restaurant on the one hundred block of Main Street in Telford in Bucks County. Family members say it was the day after her 23rd birthday. On Thursday, investigators said an autopsy revealed that maria was killed.

TELFORD, Pa. - Prosecutors in Bucks County say the death of a 23-year-old woman whose body was found in a Telford apartment is now being investigated as a homicide.

What we know:

Officers from the Telford Borough Police Department were called to an apartment on the 100 block of Main Street on March 15 for reports of an unresponsive person.

Police found the body of 23-year-old Maria Popol after arriving at the apartment, according to the Bucks County District Attorney's Office.

Popol's death was later ruled a homicide following an autopsy. 

Family members told FOX 29 that Popol was found the day after her 23rd birthday. 

On Thursday, investigators said an autopsy revealed she was killed. 

Popol had moved to the United States about two and a half years ago with her brother, according to her family. 

They said she left other relatives in Patterson, New Jersey, and moved to Telford with her boyfriend. 

Her parents live in Guatemala, and a GoFundMe has been set up to help return her body to her home country. 

Family and co-workers said Popol was last seen at work at Don Leo Restaurant, a few blocks from her apartment, nearly two weeks ago, but she never returned. 

Margie Dominguez, a co-worker, said, "We thought the whole week that she left to New Jersey back to her family because she didn't have any family here in PA." 

Dominguez also said, "She sometimes showed signs she wasn’t sleeping well. We could tell she was probably not having a good time where she was. That is why we encourage her to move away from where she was." 

Police have not confirmed details about her domestic situation. 

Family members said Popol helped take care of her parents and paid her father's medical bills after he was hurt in an accident. 

"The only thing she want is to get money and help her family," said Edwin Popol, her cousin. 

Family and community react to Popol's death 

What they're saying:

"It's like really hard. It is really hard," said Edwin Popol. He said his family is grieving the loss of his cousin. 

"Her mom is like very hard. She right now does not want anything. She does not want to eat, and she does not want to hear about anything. She just wants her daughter back," said Popol. 

Popol's family is looking for answers. 

"We need to know what's going and what's happened to her at least," said Popol. 

He said Maria's father called him Thursday of last week, saying they had not been able to reach her for some time despite normally talking to her every day.

Edwin said he contacted police in Patterson Park, New Jersey, where he lives, for help reaching local authorities in Telford. 

Meanwhile, Edwin said the family needs answers. "We need justice," he said. 

What you can do:

Investigators have not said who made the 911 call, a motive, how Popol was killed or if they have a suspect.

Prosecutors say the investigation is "active and fluid," and asked anyone with information about the case to come forward.