DOUGLAS COUNTY, Colo. -- Sheriff's investigators looking into the gruesome death of a woman who was alive when she was being dragged along a Douglas County road said Tuesday that they have several witnesses detained in relation to the homicide.

The witnesses are currently being interviewed but their names have not been released.

Authorities still have not publicly identified the woman who was killed. Detectives released a photograph found near the woman's body, which showed a Hispanic couple standing against a wall, possibly attending a party.

"(The photo) has been linked to some information that we used to identify some witnesses," said Douglas County Sheriff's spokeswoman Kim L. Castellano.

Sheriff Dave Weaver thanked everyone who came forward with information regarding the case but did not specifically say if any of those witnesses identified the woman in the photo or the woman who was killed.

Investigators said that they don't believe that the woman in the picture is the murder victim.

Castellano said that she believes the case is solvable and calls the questioning of the witnesses -- described as more than two people -- a "significant development."

It is not clear if the witnesses came forward voluntarily.

"They are not in custody at this time, they are being interviewed," Castellano said.

An autopsy report released late Tuesday revealed that the victim was alive when the perpetrators placed a rope around her neck and dragged her behind a vehicle. The coroner said she died from blunt force injuries and strangulation.

The woman's mangled, naked body was discovered along Surrey Drive near the Surrey Ridge subdivision, at about 2:39 a.m. Monday, police said.

A winding drag mark, consisting of tire marks and blood, stretched from Interstate 25 exit 191 to the area in the road where the woman's body was found, 7News reported.

Her face was so disfigured that she could not be immediately identified.

On Tuesday, a cross adorned with flowers and an angel was erected near the spot where the woman was found.

"It just tugs at your heart that she died such a horrific death. I don't know who put those there but she certainly deserves that and more," said neighbor Sandi Berg.

The victim was described as a white, Hispanic or Native American woman with a short stature and stocky build. She was in her 30s and had fair to medium skin. She was 5 feet tall and 130 to 140 pounds. Her auburn hair, which may have been dyed, was shoulder-length or slightly longer. She had hazel or green eyes.

Authorities said that local residents should not worry about a possible killer in the neighborhood.

"I don't think there's anything to be concerned about. I think the individual came to this area to dump the body," said Undersheriff Tony Spurloch.

Nevertheless, the grisly crime has offended and disturbed neighbors.

"I was trying to sleep last night thinking about how this poor lady was dragged, treated worse than an animal," Foley said. "She was really mangled," said resident Nancy Foley.

"I get out, got strobe lights in my eyes -- flashing lights, you know. I come out, look and there's a bag down there on the street. It's a little nerve-wracking," said resident Bradley Dawson.

Detectives spent most of Monday walking the road collecting pieces of clothing that had been ripped from her body and looking for other evidence.

According to the sheriff's office, a man called authorities at 2:39 a.m. to report finding the woman's body on the road near his house. Her body was found in a massive pool of blood in the middle of the street. There was so much blood spilled on the concrete that street sweepers could not remove it all and authorities had to hire a private contractor to take care of it.

Some traces of blood remain and that's upsetting neighbors, Foley said.

"We don't want to attract any more attention that what we're already getting. This is our little piece of heaven," she said.

According to the evidence at the scene, it appeared that the vehicle that had dragged the woman had exited I-25 at the Surrey Ridge exit and then continued southwest, until her body was left in the middle of the quiet residential neighborhood.

The sheriff's office said the toxicology report could take up to three weeks or longer to be released, but will determine if drugs or alcohol were in the victim's system at the time of her death.