MALDEN, Mass. -- The death of a woman whose body was found in a parked car in Malden is being treated as a homicide, officials said.

Family: Dead Woman Had Restraining Order Against Boyfriend

Family members told NewsCenter 5 that the victim is Norma Dorce Gills, 37, who was reported missing two weeks ago. She owned a beauty salon in Malden.

A woman's body was found in the trunk of a car on Faulkner Street in Malden on Wednesday.

"They advised me that they found Norma's car with a body inside, but they don't know yet if it is Norma. But because I know that she has been missing and the body is in her car, that is why I assume this is her," said the woman's brother, Jules Dorce.

Police wouldn't confirm the victim's identity, but they were searching the woman's Salem Street salon last night.

"We are treating this as a homicide investigation and are speaking with a number of people who we believe may have information regarding her death," Middlesex County District Attorney Gerard Leone said in a statement on Wednesday.

Friends and co-workers said Dorce left her salon business on Feb. 13 and never returned.

Dorce said he has been in contact with his sister's boyfriend, who owns a store near the beauty salon, since her disappearance.

"He has been saying that he doesn't know anything. The only thing he knows is that Norma is not there, and there was a note on the door saying that the beauty salon was closed for a week," Dorce said.

Malden District Court confirmed on Thursday that Gills had taken out a restraining order against her boyfriend. The man's name has not been released and officials have not commented on him.

"This was something I was trying to prevent for three years. I have been fighting with her to keep her from getting abused like that, and she still was abused and getting abused. And I think ... I don't know what to say right now because this is really, really bad," Dorce said.

People who live in the neighborhood said they are stunned by the woman's disappearance and possible death.

"I can't believe it, you know? She just seems nice," one woman said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Malden police.