Reporter staff

The King County Medical Examiner confirmed Friday that the body found down a ravine near the White River on Thursday was that of Misty Upham, a 32-year-old Native American woman and actress.

The woman’s cause and manner of death remain under investigation. A medical examiner’s office investigator said that Upham (inset photo) died on Oct. 5.

Auburn Police said Friday they did not have any evidence or information to believe that there was foul play.

Family and friends searching for an Auburn woman who’d been missing since Oct. 5 found the body 150 feet down a wooded ravine off Elm Lane and 28th Street Southeast.

Crews from the Valley Regional Fire Authority spent much of Thursday afternoon working their way down the hill with ropes and pulleys to recover the body and bring it back to street level.

After Dr. Timothy Williams of the King County Medical Examiner’s Office examined the body, he made his way to waiting family and friends to let them know of his findings and led to his van a large group that held an emotional service for the dead woman.

Upham, a member of the Blackfoot Tribe, was last seen Oct. 5 walking away from her sister’s apartment, according to a statement her father, Charles Upham, sent to media outlets. Auburn authorities say the body was found behind the same apartment building.

Upham was listed as a missing person in the Washington Crime Information Center database. Charles Upham said in his news release that his daughter had bipolar disorder and bouts of anxiety and depression but that that he did not believe she would harm herself.

Friends and family said they were upset with the Auburn Police Department for what they claim was a total lack of help during the search.

Stocker said Auburn Police did help.

Upham was nominated in 2008 for an Independent Spirit Award for her role in “Frozen River,” in which she co-starred with Melissa Leo.She played a housekeeper in “August: Osage County,” which starred Julia Roberts and Meryl Streep.