Police have confirmed the body found near Mosgiel Friday morning is that of a woman who has been missing for two days.
Gae Pantel, 67, a motel manager, disappeared without trace on Tuesday evening from a friend's house in Riccarton Road East in East Taieri.
A search begun by her family turned into a major operation involving at least 40 people including search and rescue teams from across the Otago region.
Police say a pair of cyclists doing an unofficial search came across Ms Pantel's body in Gladstone Rd, near where she disappeared.
They say her death is not suspicious, and it has been referred to the coroner.