Search and rescue crews recovered the body of 21-year-old Arielle Reis Coutinho Valdes Monday afternoon along the Caloosahatchee.
Valdes was last seen running across the Edison Bridge around 6:50 P.M. on Wednesday.
"A short time ago, members of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office located remains of a female while conducting a search along the Caloosahatchee River in North Fort Myers. The remains are presumed to be of missing 21-year-old, Arielle Valdes," the Lee County Sheriff's Office posted on Facebook.
LCSO stated on its Facebook page that they used a wide range of LCSO assets on both land and sea including marine vessels, aviation, multiple drones, K9s, the Forensics Division for purposes of utilizing our ANDE rapid DNA device, as well as the Major Crimes Unit.
Preliminarily, there is no evidence to indicate that foul play was involved.
LCSO Major Crimes Unit has communicated with the family to provide the most recent update. LCSO will work with the District 21 Medical Examiner’s Office for the remainder of the investigation.
Her mother organized searches, pleading for assistance. “Please, if someone knows anything about her, we can’t sleep," said Priscila Coutinho. "We can’t eat. We just like looking for her everywhere. Please. Please help me find her and bring her home so we can provide love and whatever she needs to get well.”
This is an evolving story, Fox 4 will continue to update it as we learn more information.
