Illinois authorities intensified efforts in the search for 17-year-old Brissa Romero, missing for over a week, took a heartbreaking turn as authorities discovered her car submerged in a retention pond just a mile away from where she was last seen.
The tragic find prompted an extensive search of the area, resulting in the recovery of a body matching Brissa's description on Tuesday, as per Daily News.
Illinois Mourns as Missing Teen Brissa's Car Found in Pond
HIGHLAND PARK, IL - JULY 05: Flowers are laid near the scene of a shooting at a Fourth of July parade on July 5, 2022 in Highland Park, Illinois. Police have detained Robert “Bobby” E. Crimo III, 22, in connection with the shooting in which six people were killed and 19 injured, according to published reports.
Brissa, a Carpentersville teenager, went missing on her way to a work holiday party at Bowlero bowling alley in Vernon Hills. The Illinois community, once hopeful for her safe return, is now mourning as the investigation takes a somber turn.
On Monday night, police pulled Brissa's car from the pond after a witness reported seeing a backpack floating on the water's edge, later identified as belonging to Brissa. The Carpentersville Police are awaiting confirmation from the Lake County Coroner's office to officially determine if the recovered body is that of the missing teen.
Vernon Hills Police Chief Patrick Kreis stated, "Based on the condition of the vehicle and all the evidence we have at this point, it appears that Brissa was in that vehicle when it drove into the lake." The pond, situated near Lakeview Parkway and Executive Parkway, may have been unfamiliar to Brissa, leading her to drive into the water.
Surveillance footage from December 4, the night Brissa vanished, showed her making a stop at her workplace to pick up her iPad before heading to the holiday party. Although her phone last pinged near the party venue, no one at the event reported seeing her.
Brissa's disappearance had triggered an extensive search effort involving drones and surveys of local ponds. However, it wasn't until Monday's discovery that authorities found a lead. Brissa's family, who maintained communication through location-sharing apps, expressed deep concern as they anxiously awaited news of her whereabouts, according to Daily Mail.
Vigil for Brissa, Reward in Search
A vigil held near Town Center Road and Milwaukee Avenue underscored the community's support and desperation for Brissa's safe return. Her mother, Blanca Aguilera, tearfully pleaded, "I want my daughter back as soon as possible. I just want my daughter back."
Described as a hardworking student pursuing a career as an ultrasound technician at Harper College, Brissa was last seen wearing a green long sleeve shirt, black vest, ripped black jeans, and black Uggs. Her family, friends, and the wider community had rallied together, offering a $14,000 reward for information leading to her safe return.
As the search concluded with the recovery of a body from the pond on Tuesday, Brissa's family was too distraught to speak. The Carpentersville and Vernon Hills Police Departments expressed condolences to the Romero family and thanked the community for their support.
The investigation continues, awaiting official identification from the Lake County Coroner's office, as the community grapples with the loss of a young life, CBS News reported.
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