(AP) - A decomposed body found by the side of aLong Island highway two weeks ago has been identified as that of aCliffside Park woman missing for nearly a year.

The Bergen County Prosecutor's Office said Tuesday that the bodyof 28-year-old Thalia Stathis was identified through dental recordsand DNA.

She was last seen Sept. 14 after working a night shift as awaitress at a Hackensack diner.

Stathis' boyfriend, Hugues Francois, was arrested on unrelatedcharges shortly after her disappearance. He was charged with hermurder while in custody. It was a rare case of a homicide beingprosecuted before a body was found.

Francois has pleaded not guilty to Stathis' murder.