Authorities imagine the physique of Arielle Valdes, a 21-year-old lady who disappeared whereas operating close to her house in Florida, has been situated.
Valdes vanished on Wednesday, Aug. 28, after leaving her house to go on a run on the ninetieth block of Mariana Avenue in North Fort Myers round 6:30 p.m. native time, in accordance with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO).
Footage captured by a Division of Transportation digital camera, shared by the LCSO, confirmed the lady operating southbound on U.S. Route 41 round 6:45 p.m. that very same night. Cameras additionally captured her going southbound towards the Edison Bridge simply after 6:50 p.m.
On Monday, Sept. 2, 5 days after Valdes disappeared, a physique was discovered whereas crews looked for her alongside the Caloosahatchee River in North Fort Myers, in accordance with the LCSO. Authorities imagine the stays belonged to Valdes.
Authorities stated preliminary proof doesn’t point out that foul play was concerned in Valdes’ dying, in accordance with the LCSO. Her reason for dying has not been launched.
“We’re heartbroken about Arielle’s passing,” stated Joseph Sowels, who organized a GoFundMe marketing campaign began after Valdes’ disappearance.
Family members are holding off on figuring out what to make use of the funds for after Valdes’ physique was discovered. Initially, the funds had been raised as a reward for “the one that supplies info to the household or police that lead on to discovering Arielle.”
Finally, Sowels stated, the funds will go “on to Isabella Hergert,” who was recognized by Fort Myers News-Press as Valdes’ sister.
Hergert paid tribute to her sister in a number of posts on her Facebook page. Within the first publish, she wrote, “Ari you had been too good for this world. I like you and I’ll see you once more in each lifetime. You’re a piece of my soul that I’ll at all times search for.”
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Valdes’ sister then added, “Thanks a lot for the love now we have acquired from the neighborhood. Please give us privateness whereas we grieve our angel.”
In one other publish, Hergert shared a photo of a journal entry presumably written by her sister, and promised to “work on publishing a few of her non secular scriptures.”
“My sister was an actual life angel,” Hergert captioned the publish. “I do know that is all for a higher function.”
Valdes’ dying was additionally mourned in a publish shared on a Fb Web page devoted to discovering the lacking lady, titled “Finding Arielle Valdes.” She was described as a “vibrant persona and mild soul” who “introduced a lot gentle into the lives of those that knew her.”
“Arielle’s presence was a present, and her reminiscence will ceaselessly be cherished by all who had been lucky sufficient to know her,” the publish learn.
Valdes was coaching for a marathon previous to her disappearance, Hegert shared on Facebook.
Crews searched “each land and sea during the last 5 days looking for Valdes, in accordance with the sheriff’s workplace.
On the “Discovering Arielle Valdes” Fb web page, members of the neighborhood had been thanked for stepping as much as assist with the seek for Valdes, in addition to those that provided emotional help to the lady’s household.
“The efforts we made collectively had been widespread and unforgettable, displaying simply how highly effective we might be after we unite for a standard trigger,” the publish learn. “Within the face of this tragedy, we’ve confirmed that we’re extra than simply neighbors — we’re a real neighborhood, sure by our care and dedication to 1 one other.”
