The body of a missing runner was found five days after she vanished while on a jog in her Florida neighborhood.
Arielle Valdes, 21, left her home in Fort Myers to go for a run around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, sparking a huge appeal from her loved ones when she failed to return home.
Her remains were found in the nearby Caloosahatchee River on Monday, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office said, stating that there was no initial suggestion of foul play.
“It’s with a heavy heart that we share the loss of our dear Arielle, whose vibrant personality and gentle soul brought so much light into the lives of those who knew her,” Valdes’ loved ones confirmed in a post on the Finding Arielle Valdes Facebook page.
“To her family and friends, words can’t express the depth of our sorrow, and we send our heartfelt sympathies during this unimaginable time. Arielle’s presence was a gift, and her memory will forever be cherished by all who were fortunate enough to know her.”
Valdes’ remains were found in mangroves on the northern bank of the river between the Edison and Caloosahatchee bridges within minutes of the water search crew launching from the nearby dock, NBC2 reported.
Valdes’ family members said she had been battling depression, the outlet explained.
As of Tuesday morning, her official cause of death remains unconfirmed.
Valdes left her home around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday to go for a run, authorities said.
She was training for a marathon and had been running long distances, her sister, Isabella Hergert, posted on Facebook shortly after she failed to return home.
Traffic cameras spotted Valdes jogging toward the Edison Bridge wearing a hoodie, a sweater, gym shorts, and black Converse sneakers around 6:50 that evening.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office announced over the weekend that it was intensifying the search, including marine and aviation resources, drones, K9s, and the Forensics Division.
Hergert posted an emotional tribute to her late sibling on Facebook Monday afternoon.
“Ari you were too good for this world. I love you and I will see you again in every life time [sic]. You are a piece of my soul that I will always look for,” she wrote.
“Thank you so much for the love we have received from the community. Please give us privacy while we grieve our angel.”
