Missing mum-of-two Lindsay Birbeck was strangled to death, police say.
It's now been confirmed that a woman found dead in a cemetery is the teaching assistant, 46, who disappeared from home on August 12.
A murder investigation, led by a 'large team of detectives' has been launched.
Police say a post-mortem found Lindsay died 'as a result of compression of the neck'.
Accrington Cemetery has been taped off since the .
No arrests have been made.
Detectives are carrying out a review of CCTV, doing house to house enquiries and trying to piece together Lindsay’s movements since she was captured on CCTV on Burnley Road at just after 4pm on Monday, August 12.
Det Supt Andy Cribbin, from Lancs Police's Major Investigation Team, is leading the inquiry.
He said: "This is a fast moving inquiry and I have a team of detectives and staff working around the clock to try and find out what has happened to Lindsay and to identify who has killed her.
"I would like to thank the community for their response to our appeals so far and to continue to urge anyone who has any information which could assist us to come forward.
"I need to find out where Lindsay has gone after she was last seen on CCTV on Burnley Road at just after 4pm on August 12 and what has happened to her.
"I would continue to appeal for anyone with CCTV, especially in the area of Peel Park Avenue, to come forward and I would also like to speak to anyone who thinks they saw Lindsay, or anyone matching her description, or who saw anything suspicious in that area on the afternoon or evening of August 12 to come and speak to us.
"I would also like to speak to anyone who has seen anything suspicious in or around the cemetery area after August 12 or anyone who has any drone footage or dashcam footage which could assist.
"Please come forward with any information, no matter how insignificant you may think it is as it could help provide the answers Lindsay’s family desperately need."
In a statement Lancashire Police also urged the public not to spread social media rumours about what may have happened to Lindsay.
The statement said: "We are aware of rumours circulating on social media about what may have happened to Lindsay and for the family’s sake we once again would urge people not to speculate as this is causing her loved ones significant additional distress at what is clearly an extremely difficult time for them."
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Lindsay was last seen wearing a purple Rab puffa jacket, black leggings, a white shirt with blue pin stripes and black trainers with a white sole.
Her Huawei mobile phone is also missing.
Anyone with information is asked to use this link https://mipp.police.uk/operation/0401020119E06-PO1, call 101 quoting log number 0824 of August 26 or contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
