Authorities have positively identified the body of a woman found in a plastic bin last week, as police investigated a possible case of human trafficking in a South Philadelphia home.

The body is that of 18-year-old Erin Schweikert, who was reported missing in September 2019. Authorities have notified her family.

Authorities said the body was found in the basement of a home on the 2100 block of Porter Street.

However, someone will likely be charged with abuse of corpse as no one notified authorities that Schweikert had died – instead, they say, her body was placed in the basement. Like that’s the normal thing to do? If they were wanted or doing anything illegal I guess it’s possible they were just too scared to go to police.

Law enforcement sources say the investigation so far has revealed the 18-year-old may have died of an overdose.

Officials with the Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office arrived to the home last Thursday night to serve a robbery warrant. The Philadelphia Police Department’s Special Victims Unit joined the sheriff’s office at the scene, working on a tip for a case of possible human trafficking.

“Special Victims Unit was coming out here with our sheriffs to deal with an issue of human trafficking. They were looking for a missing female who was approximately 18 years old,” Philadelphia Sheriff Rochelle Bilal said.

Once at the scene, authorities found five people, three males and two females. Some of which lived at the home. One of the females was listed on the warrant for not appearing in court for a robbery charge, sources said. The female and the four others were taken into custody.

Authorities began to search the home and discovered the body of the woman in a plastic bin in the basement.

Police say there were no apparent signs of trauma on her body. The cause and manner of Schweikert’s death are still undetermined at this time.

Investigators believe the case is tied to human trafficking.

The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office charged 25-year-old Maddison Leidy with Criminal Conspiracy, Abuse of Corpse and related offenses.

If you have any further information about anyone involved in this case please contact your local police department.