Photographer’s Body Found in Cemetery

OAKLAND —  A body found at a cemetery here Sunday is believed to be that of a staff photographer with the San Jose Mercury News who had been missing for nearly a week.

Police suspect that Luci S. Houston, 43, was slain, but would not disclose the cause of death. She was found in her car, covered by a tarp, about a mile from her home.

Police have no suspects. Sgt. Tim Nolan said the case was unusual. “There are obviously a lot of strange things about this case,” he said. “It appears the body was there for a few days.”

Family members and friends said they had not seen or heard from Houston since Tuesday. She had planned to pick up a friend at Oakland International Airport on Wednesday and attend a Thanksgiving Day get-together, they said.

Houston was known to be punctual, and friends said she would call people she was assigned to photograph if she was running even five minutes late.

The Washington, D.C., native had worked as a staff photographer at the Mercury News since 1993. She previously was a staff photographer for the Plain Dealer in Cleveland.