Current:Home > StocksWhat to know about Arielle Valdes: Florida runner found dead after 5-day search-LoTradeCoin
What to know about Arielle Valdes: Florida runner found dead after 5-day search
View Date:2024-12-23 19:39:46
The search for a missing Florida woman ended tragically on Monday after a body was discovered along the Caloosahatchee River, authorities said.
Arielle Valdes, 21, of North Fort Meyers had been missing since Wednesday, prompting a community-wide search that led officials to search via land, air and water.
The five-day search was triggered after Valdes left for a solo run and never returned, the Fort Myers News-Press, part of the USA TODAY Network, originally reported. Manned by volunteers and special police forces alike, the hunt was fueled by community members responding to posts shared by Valdes' family, urging locals to chip in.
The discovery of what is presumed to be Valdes' body left the family reeling Monday, though they took a moment to thank helpers for their "love and dedication."
"Whether you searched on foot for hours, drove across the county, brought out your boats, flew drones, reached out to businesses for footage, or donated to help her family, you have been our strength," the family said on Facebook.
Who was Arielle Valdes?
Arielle Valdes was a 21-year-old North Fort Myers woman who went missing while out on a run on Wednesday, Aug. 28.
She was described by family and friends in social media posts as a "vibrant personality and gentle soul brought so much light into the lives of those who knew her. Arielle had a special way of connecting with nature and the world around her, finding beauty in the simplest things."
In a post shared to Facebook, her sister, Isabella Hergert, called Valdes "Too good for this world," saying, "I love you and I will see you again in every lifetime. You are a piece of my soul that I will always look for."
When did Arielle Valdes go missing?
Valdes left her home in North Fort Myers around 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 28 to go for a run. She was captured on camera running southbound on U.S. 41 around 6:45 p.m., Florida Department of Transportation footage showed, and again shortly after 6:50 p.m. where video caught her heading southbound toward the Edison Bridge.
She was last seen wearing a light-colored hoodie sweater, gym shorts, and what appeared to be black and white low-top Converse-style sneakers, the Lee County Sheriff's Office said while announcing the search for Valdes was underway Friday evening.
Family said Valdes has been training for a marathon and running long distances, the Fort Myers News-Press reported. A post shared by her family on Facebook during the search also said she had "been having panic attacks as of very recently and has not been speaking much the last week."
Searches for Valdes continued into Monday, using a range of resources from the sheriff's office, the Forensics Division and major crimes unit Major Crimes Unit, including marine vessels, aviation tools, drones, canines and rapid DNA testing.
What happened to Arielle Valdes?
A body presumed to belong to Valdes was discovered by authorities Monday afternoon during a search along the Caloosahatchee River, the News-Press first reported.
The sheriff's office said in a release that there was no evidence to indicate foul play. Police will work with the local Medical Examiner's Office moving forward to determine the cause of death.
A GoFundMe set up to benefit Valdes' family during the search was updated to reflect the news Monday.
"We are heartbroken to share the tragic news that after five days of searching, Arielle Valdes was found in the Caloosahatchee River. Her passing has left us devastated, and the loss of such a vibrant and loving soul has been felt deeply by all who knew her," it said.
"Arielle was missing for five agonizing days, during which countless community members came together to search for her, showing incredible strength, love, and solidarity. While we hoped and prayed for her safe return, we now face the unimaginable reality of having to say goodbye."
The $4,280 in the fund Tuesday afternoon will now be put toward a memorial, cremation and special urn, Valdes' outstanding bills and support for the family.
"As we now face the heartbreaking reality of Arielle’s passing, let’s take a moment to recognize the extraordinary strength of our community," the Finding Arielle Valdes Facebook page shared to its 4,500 followers. "The efforts we made together were widespread and unforgettable, showing just how powerful we can be when we unite for a common cause. In the face of this tragedy, we’ve proven that we are more than just neighbors — we are a true community, bound by our care and commitment to one another."
veryGood! (991)
Related
- Man charged with murder in fatal shooting of 2 workers at Chicago’s Navy Pier
- Anouk Aimée, Oscar-nominated French actress, dies at 92
- Pistons part ways with head coach Monty Williams after one season
- Massachusetts suffers statewide outage of its 911 services
- Women’s baseball players could soon have a league of their own again
- Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Al Horford, team work lead Celtics to 18th NBA championship
- 18 million Americans are house poor, new study shows
- Snapchat Inc. to pay $15 million to settle discrimination and harassment lawsuit in California
- New Pentagon report on UFOs includes hundreds of new incidents but no evidence of aliens
- Police in Oklahoma arrest man accused of raping, killing Maryland jogger last August
Ranking
- Atmospheric river to bring heavy snow, rain to Northwest this week
- Ángela Aguilar addresses scrutiny of Christian Nodal romance: 'Let people talk'
- 24 people charged in money laundering scheme involving Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel, prosecutors say
- With pardons in Maryland, 2.5 million Americans will have marijuana convictions cleared or forgiven
- Demure? Brain rot? Oxford announces shortlist for 2024 Word of the Year: Cast your vote
- Thailand’s Senate overwhelmingly approves a landmark bill to legalize same-sex marriages
- Kevin Durant says there are 'better candidates' than Caitlin Clark for U.S. Olympic team
- Reaction to the death of Willie Mays, ‘a true Giant on and off the field’
Recommendation
-
Why Dolly Parton Is a Fan of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's Little Love Affair
-
18 million Americans are house poor, new study shows
-
Noam Chomsky’s wife says reports of famed linguist’s death are false
-
Travis Kelce Addresses Typo on His $40K Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl Ring
-
Judge recuses himself in Arizona fake elector case after urging response to attacks on Kamala Harris
-
Legacy of the Negro Leagues to live on during MLB game at Rickwood Field in Birmingham
-
Dollar Tree failed to pull lead-contaminated applesauce for months, FDA says
-
Vermont state rep admits secretly pouring water in colleague's bag for months