Authorities and volunteers searched for Arielle Valdes on land and at sea across the country.
About five days after a North Fort Myers woman went jogging and never returned, sparking a nationwide search, friends and family had their worst nightmare confirmed Monday afternoon.
Friends and family posted on “Finding Arielle Valdes,” a Facebook group created after she never returned home, with the goal of finding her alive.
Valdes’ sister, Isabella Hergert, released this statement on her Facebook page, where she has been providing updates since Valdes’ disappearance on August 28.
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Isabella Hergert, Valdes’ sister, posted the following statement on her Facebook page. Throughout the search, Hergert had posted updates and calls for help from the community:SISTER: Ari, you were too good for this world. I love you and will see you again in every lifetime. You are a piece of my soul that I will always search for. Thank you for the love we have received from the community. Please give us privacy as we mourn the loss of our angel.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office announced Friday evening that it had launched a search for 21-year-old Arielle Reis Coutinho Valdes, who left her home around 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday (August 28) to go jogging.
The sheriff’s office said Valdes was last seen wearing a light-colored hoodie, gym shorts and what appeared to be black and white low-top Converse-style sneakers.
The press release posted on the sheriff’s Facebook page said Department of Transportation footage captured the avid runner heading south on U.S. 41 from Pondella Road in North Fort Myers through her neighborhood at around 6:45 p.m. that evening.
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Search for missing woman in Fort Myers was extensive
Throughout the weekend, the sheriff’s office released footage of its air and marine units searching for Valdes by land and sea.
In addition, the sheriff’s office said cameras caught her driving south toward the Edison Bridge shortly after 6:50 p.m. on Wednesday.
As of Monday morning, the sheriff’s office said efforts to search for Valdes were ongoing. Authorities said they had utilized a variety of sheriff’s assets on land and at sea.
According to the sheriff’s office, the response team includes various marine vessels, aircraft, several drones, police dogs, the forensics division, which will use its ANDE rapid DNA testing device, and the major crimes division.
On Monday afternoon, sheriff’s office officials found the remains of a woman during a search along the Caloosahatchee River north of Fort Myers. The remains are believed to be the missing Valdes.
The sheriff’s office said there is no evidence that a crime was committed. The Major Crimes Unit has been in contact with the family and updated them on any developments.
“We will work with the District 21 Coroner’s Office for the remainder of the investigation,” the sheriff’s office said in a press release.
Valdes’ disappearance and subsequent search took social media by storm throughout Southwest Florida. Numerous Facebook groups and individuals shared posts from Hergert. There were also several organized search parties and flyers were created to spread the word on social media and in the area where Valdes disappeared.
A GoFundMe campaign set up for the search had raised over $2,200 of the $10,000 goal as of Monday afternoon. GoFundMe is a crowdfunding platform. The Valdes page was collecting donations to offer rewards for tips and clues leading to a search.
The GoFundMe page said:
“We are raising money for a reward fund in the fight to find Arielle Valdes. Arielle was last seen on August 28, 2024 on Route 41 in North Fort Myers, Florida. Arielle is a responsible and well-liked member of her community. Funds raised will be offered to the person who provides information to the family or police that leads directly to the search for Arielle. In the event Arielle is found without a lead, the reward fund will be wired to her.”
This is a developing story. Please visit news-press.com often for updates and new content as we receive it.
Tomas Rodriguez is a breaking/live news reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. Reach Tomas at [email protected] or 772-333-5501. Reach him on threads @tomasfrobeltran, Instagram @tomasfrobeltran and Facebook @tomasrodrigueznews.
