Mr Reardon reported Ms Yeates missing on Sunday Police have said they “are satisfied” a body found on Christmas Day is that of missing Bristol landscape architect Joanna Yeates.
A couple out walking their dogs discovered the snow-covered body in Longwood Lane in Failand, North Somerset.
Ms Yeates, 25, from Clifton, had not been seen since 17 December.
Police said the death was being treated as suspicious but post-mortem test results were not expected until Monday.
Ms Yeates is thought to have returned to the flat she shared with her boyfriend Greg Reardon, 27, after she was last seen at a Tesco Express store in Clifton at about 2030 GMT.
Mr Reardon was in Sheffield visiting family for the weekend and reported her missing to police when he returned home two days later.
Ms Yeates’ keys, mobile phone, purse and coat had been left behind at their flat.
A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police said: “While a formal identification procedure is yet to be completed, police are satisfied that the body is that of 25-year-old landscape architect Joanna Yeates, who went missing during the weekend before Christmas.”
He added: “A post-mortem examination has been taking place in Bristol today.
Forensic teams conduct examinations in Longwood Lane after the discovery on Christmas Day “However, because of the extreme freezing conditions in which Joanna’s body was found, it is unlikely that any findings from this will be known until tomorrow at the earliest.
“Officers are, however, treating Joanna’s death as suspicious at this stage but will not be able to discuss this further until the results of the post mortem are known.”
Police have appealed for information which may help them fill in the gap between Ms Yeates’ disappearance and the discovery of her body.
They were expected to continue their fingertip search in the Longwood Lane area throughout Sunday.
Ch Supt Jon Stratford, of Avon and Somerset Police, said: “Our heartfelt condolences go out to Joanna’s family for their loss.
“We have not stopped working hard throughout the Christmas period to find their daughter after she was reported missing.
“Now we will work just as hard to discover exactly what happened to her and how she came to be in Longwood Lane on Christmas morning.
“Until the post-mortem examination is able to firmly establish how Joanna died, we are keeping an open mind about the cause of her death.
“However, I would appeal to anyone with any information whatsoever that can help this investigation to please come forward and help us provide Joanna’s parents with the answers they so desperately want and need.”
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