Body of missing nurse found as her husband becomes suspect in her murder

The body of a missing nurse has been found in the US and authorities have now turned the case from that of a missing persons, to a homicide.

The victim's husband is now one of the suspects with detectives confirming foul play was "definitely" a factor in her death, reports ABC.

Diana Alejandra Keel, 38, was reported missing from her Nashville home, in North Carolina, by her 18-year-old daughter on Saturday.

Her husband, Lynn, told police he last saw his wife on Friday but did not report her missing.

The couple also has a 10-year-old son.

"He said that she leaves from time to time and will stay gone a couple of days," Nash County Sheriff Keith Stone told a media conference.

He confirmed police were aware of "difficulties" in the marriage.

Keel's body was found 25 minutes away in Edgecombe County and her husband was soon taken in for questioning.

"This is a homicide investigation at this time. I don't want to get into elaborating too much on the specifics of the case because we're doing investigations as of right now. ... The cause of death was the act of someone," Stone said.

"There’s a killer on the loose."

Stone said there were other "persons of interest" in the case, but he declined to release their names.

Her husband was released after questioning and has not been charged.