Current:Home > ScamsRemains of mother who vanished in 2012 found in pond near Disney World, family says -消息
Remains of mother who vanished in 2012 found in pond near Disney World, family says
View
Date:2025-04-23 17:46:14
A missing woman's remains were finally found in Florida over the weekend, almost 12 years after she disappeared while driving home from a date near Disney World, according to her family.
Sandra Lemire's body was inside of a minivan that sunk 14 feet in a retention pond off the side of an interstate highway, said Sunshine State Sonar, the crew that helped officials find her remains, in a Facebook post. Sunshine State Sonar is a volunteer search and recovery team based in Florida that specializes in sonar and underwater technology.
Mike Sullivan, with Sunshine State Sonar, told CBS affiliate WKMG that the recovery team was able to find Lemire using technology that was not available when she went missing in 2012.
"Back then law enforcement would send divers in the water with zero visibility just swimming around and hoping to bump into a vehicle," Sullivan said. Lemire's son, Tim Lemire, Jr., told the station that Sullivan sent him a picture of the minivan license plate after they found the car, which "really hit home."
⚠️ BREAKING NEWS! After nearly 12 years, we have found missing Orlando mother, Sandra Lemire. We located her vehicle...
Posted by Sunshine State Sonar on Sunday, December 31, 2023
"That kind of finalized everything for me," said Lemire, Jr. He thanked Sunshine State Sonar in a post shared Sunday morning to his personal Facebook page, and said it seemed like his mother had been driving too fast over the exit ramp "and went straight into the water."
Lemire, a mother from Orlando, was last seen alive on May 8, 2012. A missing person bulletin issued several years ago by the Orlando Police Department noted that Lemire had left a Denny's restaurant in Kissimmee, a city just south of Orlando, in the minivan before she and the car seemingly vanished. Officials say Lemire had borrowed her grandmother's red 2004 Ford Freestar to meet a man who she had been communicating with through an internet dating service. She called the grandmother to confirm her arrival in Kissimmee but did not call again, as she had promised, during the drive back home.
Sunshine State Sonar worked with Orlando police detectives to search a total of 63 bodies of water over the last 17 months, starting with an initial search in July 2022, the volunteer team said. Information shared over the weekend by detectives about Lemire's case prompted one volunteer to begin mapping new potential search locations, which included some highways. The team's sonar technology flagged a retention pond along the I-4 highway in Kissimmee, near the exit for Disney World, and discovered Lemire's remains with the van on Sunday.
"We located what appeared to be a minivan submerged in 14 feet of water. Our team quickly suited up and dove on the vehicle to make the license plate confirmation," Sunshine State Sonar wrote on Facebook. "Our hearts go out to her family who supported us along the way we are saddened at the circumstances, but glad we could assist in bringing her home. Rest in peace Sandra, you are finally home."
The team called the recovery "extremely challenging," and said a number of agencies in addition to Orlando Police were involved in the effort, including the Florida Highway Patrol and two county sheriff's offices.
- In:
- Car Accident
- Disney World
- Florida
Emily Mae Czachor is a reporter and news editor at CBSNews.com. She covers breaking news, often focusing on crime and extreme weather. Emily Mae has previously written for outlets including the Los Angeles Times, BuzzFeed and Newsweek.
Twitter InstagramveryGood! (35197)
Related
- Which apps offer encrypted messaging? How to switch and what to know after feds’ warning
- Man charged in mass shooting at Fourth of July parade near Chicago to stand trial next February
- Target strikes deal with Diane von Furstenberg. Here's how much her clothes will cost.
- Federal Reserve minutes: Officials worried that progress on inflation could stall in coming months
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Triathlon
- Disaster follows an astronaut back to Earth in the thriller 'Constellation'
- 88-year-old mother testifies in murder conspiracy trial about daughter’s disappearance
- Agency to announce the suspected cause of a 2022 bridge collapse over a Pittsburgh ravine
- Gen. Mark Milley's security detail and security clearance revoked, Pentagon says
- Businessman Eric Hovde enters Wisconsin U.S. Senate race to unseat Democrat Tammy Baldwin
Ranking
- Paula Abdul settles lawsuit with former 'So You Think You Can Dance' co
- Apple says not to put wet iPhones in uncooked rice. Here's what to do instead.
- Man suspected in killing of woman in NYC hotel room arrested in Arizona after two stabbings there
- Republican prosecutor in Arizona takes swipe at New York district attorney prosecuting Trump
- John Galliano out at Maison Margiela, capping year of fashion designer musical chairs
- FuboTV files lawsuit over ESPN, Fox, Hulu, Warner Bros. Discovery sports-streaming venture
- Travis Kelce Touches Down in Australia to Reunite With Girlfriend Taylor Swift
- Reviewers drag 'Madame Web,' as social media reacts to Dakota Johnson's odd press run
Recommendation
$73.5M beach replenishment project starts in January at Jersey Shore
White House wades into debate on ‘open’ versus ‘closed’ artificial intelligence systems
Ex-romantic partner of Massachusetts governor says she’s ready to serve on state’s high court
Drunk driver who struck and killed an NYPD detective sentenced to more than 20 years in prison
Trump issues order to ban transgender troops from serving openly in the military
Utah school board member censured over transgender comments is seeking reelection
See Machine Gun Kelly’s Transformation After Covering His Tattoos With Solid Black Ink
This Kylie Cosmetics Lip Butter Keeps My Perpetually Chapped Lips Smooth All Day & It Smells Amazing