Authorities in California are searching for a fire battalion suspected in the death of his fiance, UPI.com reported.

On Thursday, the body of 26-year-old Sarah Jane Douglas was discovered in the home she shared with Orville Fleming, an instructor at the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Fleming, 55, was missing from the home.

According to FOX40, Douglas' sister found her at home, apparently strangled and stabbed to death.

Lisa Bowman, a spokeswoman for the county sheriff, said Douglas' pickup truck was found in nearby Elk Grove. According to reports, neighbors saw the truck early Thursday.

Fleming is described as 6-feet-1-inch tall and weighing about 190 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. Authorities believe he may have left the Sacramento area and might have ties to the Fresno/Clovis area, as well as other parts of the state.

"She had her whole life ahead of her," Trina Werly, Douglas' aunt, told FOX40.

Werly said their two-year relationship had recently taken a turn for the worse.

"He was possessive," Werly said. "She tried to leave him and then I guess they said they'd work it out."

"My sister said 'I think he is going to kill her,'" she added.

Daniel Berlant, a spokesman for the fire agency, said Fleming has been with CalFire for 24 years.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call the sheriff's department at (916) 874-5115.