GRASS VALLEY – A woman who was reported missing was found dead in her friend's home after the friend led police on a chase in Nevada County overnight, deputies said.

The Nevada County Sheriff's Office received a report that 44-year-old Grass Valley resident Shondra Zimmerman was missing by a family member Wednesday evening. 

Deputies searched for Zimmerman and found her vehicle at a friend's home in Nevada City, where it appeared no one was home. 

The friend was identified as Andrew Gall.

As deputies were searching for Zimmerman, they expanded their search to include Gall and his associated vehicle, which was spotted just before 4 a.m. in Grass Valley.

When a deputy tried to pull over the vehicle, deputies said the driver took off and a pursuit ensued. 

The driver crashed near Washington Road and Highway 20, leading to deputies identifying the driver as Gall. 

Gall was taken to the hospital but eventually arrested for reckless evasion of an officer, a felony parole violation and a DUI. 

Deputies then searched Gall's home, where they found Zimmerman dead. Her death is under investigation and the cause is pending an autopsy and toxicology report. This could take several weeks to complete.