The Fredericton Police have not ruled out foul play in the discovery Sunday of a woman's body on the north bank of the St. John River.

The body was first spotted by a person walking along the river behind the Devon Park Plaza at about 4:30 p.m.

Const. Rick Mooney said the body has not yet been identified.

The cause of death has not been released, but police have not ruled out foul play, he said.

The major crime unit is investigating.

Police officers are still at the scene but their ability to recover the body has been slowed because of ice and snow in the area.

"The scene is original and so we have enlisted the help of professionals to erect a structure to properly warm the scene so it can be processed," Mooney said.

It may take a few more days before officers are able to remove the body, located in a cordoned off wooded area at the base of a steep embankment, he said.

The police also cannot say how long the woman's body has been on the river bank.

"Just speculating, but it is fair to say days, if not weeks," he said.

The remains were found in the same area where a woman was last seen nearly a month ago.

Elisabeth (Beth) Ruth Fellows disappeared on Jan. 25 after being captured on video surveillance shopping at Devon Park Plaza.

Police and her family and friends have been searching for her ever since.

Fellows, 41, is described as being about five feet four inches tall, 115 pounds with shoulder-length brown hair with blonde highlights.