Franklinton, N.C. — Franklin County investigators are paying close attention to a domestic violence protection order placed by a missing woman who they believe was found in the trunk of a car last week.

A 1998 Toyota Camry registered to Narskelsky Angelean Pastuer, of Zebulon, was found last Thursday on a wooded path next to U.S. Highway 1, south of Franklinton, authorities said. They are still working to positively identify the body found inside, but believe it is the 54-year-old mother and grandmother who was reported missing more than a month ago.

According to court records, Pastuer had taken out the protection order against her ex-husband, Robert Back, who authorities have named a person of interest in the case, in April. The two had been married for 10 years, family members said.

"I don't know if the domestic violence order and the problems with her husband has anything to do with this case or not," Franklin County Sheriff Pat Green said Monday. "All I can tell you is that the young lady was murdered."

On the domestic violence order, Pastuer wrote: "I'm afraid he might hurt me again."

Back was scheduled to appear in court Monday for violating the order, but the case was continued until January.

Court records indicate that Back also has been arrested in Wake County for assault.

Pastuer's daughter, Melissa Battle, reported her mother missing on Nov. 8.

"(It) was my daughter's birthday, and I knew something was wrong then when she didn't call her, because that was a day that she never missed," Battle said.

Green said he hopes to have a positive identification of the body from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner by Wednesday.