SAN DIEGO—Authorities Jan. 4 publicly identified a woman whose body was found two weeks ago in a freezer at an Allied Gardens home.

Relatives visiting from out of town discovered Mary Margaret Haxby-Jones dead inside the chest-style food-storage appliance at the residence in the 4900 block of Zion Avenue late on the morning of Dec. 22, according to the San Diego Police Department (SDPD).

It remains unclear when Ms. Haxby-Jones—who would have been 81 years old when her remains were found—died, and the cause of her death is still under investigation, SDPD Lt. Jud Campbell said.

“However, no obvious traumatic injury to the body was noted. ... Based on the investigation to this point, detectives believe it is possible that Ms. Haxby-Jones may have been missing or dead for up to nine years,” the lieutenant said Thursday.

Ms. Haxby-Jones is believed to have lived at the home at some point, according to police.