Actress Body Found: Dead Body Of Missing ‘Django Unchained’ Actress Misty Upham Found In Washington State, Police Uncooperative In Search?

Actress Body Found - A dead body was found in Washington State on Thursday, and it has only been recently identified as that of the missing actress Misty Upham. A family spokesperson confirmed to Variety that the actress body found incident happened in a wooded area in the Seattle suburb of Auburn.

Her body had been found near the White River less than an hour outside Seattle, according to Seattle's KIRO-TV.

Appearing in "August: Osage Country" and "Django Unchained," 32-year-old Upham had reportedly been missing for 10 days before the actress body found by friends and family.

She was reported missing by her family October 6, according to Deadline.

The occurrence of the actress body found was only because of a search party of three led by the Native American actress' uncle, Robert Upham. They first found Upham's purse and ID during the search. Later, they discovered a body at the bottom of a 150-foot ravine was the actress body found, reported the Seattle Times.

Her body was not immediately identified. A police spokesman said initially that there was a "good chance" the body was Upham's. Her father later confirmed her identity.

Upham has is a hard worker who recently appeared in the movie "Cake," starring Jennifer Aniston. The film premiered last month at the Toronto Film Festival.

Earlier this week, on October 12, Upham's father Charles issued a statement via Facebook before the actress body found. Her father revealed that Upham had difficulties with mental illness. He also let out his frustrations at the Auburn Police Department's lack of mobilization during that time.

He emphasized how he doesn't believe Upham could have taken her own life.

"We have requested help from the Muckleshoot tribe for search teams but they do not have funding for that. We are petitioning Auburn PD to implement the ENDANGERED MISSING PERSONS PLAN. This will allow law enforcement to search for her and bring her into medical care when they find her," said Upham's father on Facebook, before the actress body found.

"But they feel she does not fit the profile at this time. The detective on the case assured our family that Auburn PD is doing everything they can to find Misty. But then they release a press statement and say they are not looking for her. These mixed messages are confusing," added her father.

Nominated for an Indie Spirit Award in 2009 for her part in the film "Frozen River," Upham stopped with her bipolar disorder and anxiety medications, said her father. This prompted the police to speculate suicide is culpable in the death prior to the actress body found.

Police Commander Steve Stocker said there is currently no evidence or information to suggest "foul play" in Upham's death, reports The Independent.

According to the police, "it took nearly five hours" for the actress body found to be recovered by the rescue crews.

However, filmmaker and long-term friend Tracy Rector, speaking on behalf of the family, pointed out that the Auburn police deserves little credit with the events leading up to the case of the actress body found.

"We just want to make it clear that the Auburn police had nothing to do with looking for her or finding her. It was friends and family that led the search and rescue teams that found Misty," Rector told Variety.

She added that the family doesn't think Upham took her own life, as previously suggested by police.

"The family has stated that, after seeing the body, they still do not feel that Misty Upham committed suicide," Rector told The Hollywood Reporter.

Rector added that Upham's family were dissatisfied by the Auburn Police Department's lack of concern and assistance regarding the case.

"First and foremost, the family wants everyone to know that the Auburn police did not help with this situation at all," said Rector after the actress body found Thursday.

"They refused to help. When she disappeared on Oct. 5, the family knew something was seriously wrong - it was out of character for her to be gone so long without being in touch - and they repeatedly went to the police, who insisted there was no cause for concern."

"There's a long history of police harassment and friction between the police and the Muckleshoot community here, and her family feels they dropped the ball and Misty perhaps would have been found if the police had taken it seriously," Rector said.

Meanwhile, friends and former colleagues expressed their grief and sent their condolences via twitter after the actress body found and identified.

Juliette Lewis, Upham's co-star in "Osage," tweeted that Upham has "spoke out a lot against injustices within Native community. And had known enemies".

She also tweeted how her friend's death should be considered suspicious.

"I am in shock and grief," Lewis wrote. "I pray the police do a murder investigation. They're saying not 'foul play' when of course it is."

"So so sad to hear this news - all our thoughts are with her family and with her beautiful spirit," said Meryl Streep.

Melissa Leo described the shocking actress body found incident, and her death to be "such a loss... so sad, so so sad."

"I hope to that her talent is remembered more than any troubles we surely will never understand. She was a smart, delightful actor, a spirit wild and hungry. I know I and others are honored to have had Misty in our lives," added Leo.

"Misty was a talented and kind soul who will be greatly missed," said Upham's manager Richard Kerner. "My deepest condolences to her family and friends," he added.

Upham and her parents had recently moved to the Seattle area from Los Angeles before her disappearance and the actress body found Thursday. Her father is currently undergoing rehabilitation treatment in Washington after suffering a stroke, reports the New York Daily News.

The actress body found breakthrough appears to have mostly been through the efforts of Upham's family and friends. The police department reportedly did not have much to do with the discovery and hopefully, the King County Coroner's office will reveal more of her death as they make a statement tomorrow.