Police ruled the death of a woman found next to a dumpster in South Hempstead as a homicide on Thursday.

The determination came after further examination was done by the Nassau County Medical Examiner's Office.

The victim has been identified as Rebecca Carlson, 39, of Hempstead.

Detectives tell News 12 they received a call early Tuesday that a woman was lying on the ground behind Advance Auto Parts on Grand Avenue.

After investigating, police pronounced Carlson dead at the scene.

News 12 spoke to residents in the area who say they heard noise throughout the night before the victim was found — including alarms at the auto parts store.

"It's kind of scary, I've been here for 47 years so it's scary," says Gloria Oriol. "I raised my children there; my daughter raised her children there. Now my grandson's raising his and it's sad."