An IRS agent in San Rafael, CA, who did not return from a hike in December, was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot more than a month later on Mount Tamalpais.

The Marin County coroner's office identified the body on January 15 as that of missing IRS criminal investigator Veronica "Nikki" Ruiz, 25, who was last seen December 3, two days after she and her boyfriend of two years broke up. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, she called in sick to her IRS job in San Rafael and told a friend she was going for a hike.

When she didn't return, Mill Valley police led an extensive search team that included police officers, park rangers, search and rescue officials, volunteers with search dogs, relatives, and friends. The official search was called off after two days, but a Marin County Sheriff's Department search and rescue crew found her body during a training exercise among dense trees and shrubs.

Her IRS-issued gun and her government ID were found by her side, ABC News reported. The autopsy revealed Ruiz likely died on December 3.

Her family thanked the volunteers for their search efforts, contributions, prayers, and support. "All your thoughts, concern, sympathy and condolences throughout this event has brought us strength and will be cherished," wrote her sister, MariCris Ruiz.

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Editor's Note: It's been a few months since we first covered this story, but we just now came across the information about the agent's death and wanted to provide our readers with follow-up information.