GARY, Ind. (AP) _ Authorities say a 17-year-old Chicago girl whose body was found inside a vacant Gary school was strangled.

<p>The Lake County coroner's office identified the girl Wednesday as Connita Richardson. Gary police say she was found dead Tuesday evening in the former Emerson school building with what they called minor trauma to her body.

The coroner's office in northwest Indiana says Richardson died from “asphyxiation secondary to strangulation.'' Her death was ruled a homicide.

No one was in custody in connection to Richardson's death as of Wednesday. Gary police Sgt. Thomas Decanter says the Lake County Metro Homicide Unit is following up on leads tied to the case.