The body of an American scientist was found on Monday on the Greek island of Crete, according to numerous reports online.

Suzanne Eaton, 59, was a molecular biologist who went missing while attending a conference in Greece.

Police found the California native’s body nearby a group of caves and abandoned shooting ranges in the Cretan village of Platanias.

A scientist with the Germany-based Max Planck Institute, Eaton had traveled to Crete for a conference at the Orthodox Academy in the village of Kolymbari, close to Chania.

Eaton had been missing since July 2. Her running shoes were missing from her hotel room while all her other belongings remained there, leading her family and colleagues to believe she may have gone for a run.

The area of the village where her body was found is popular among runners, according to local mayor Kostas Bebelidakis.

Soon after Eaton disappeared, local officials and volunteers began searching for her. Her husband and two sons also came to the island to assist in the search.

The U.S. State Department told ABC News on Tuesday that it was aware a body had been recovered in Greece and it was working with authorities.

In an official statement on Tuesday, the Max Planck Institute said authorities were investigating the circumstances surrounding Eaton’s death.

“We are deeply shocked and disturbed by this tragic event. Suzanne was an outstanding and inspiring scientist, a loving spouse and mother, an athlete as well as a truly wonderful person beloved to us all,” the institute said. “Her loss is unbearable.”