Arielle Valdes missng North Fort Myers woman found dead along river front in what is believed to be a suicide death after runner had been battling depression.
Florida authorities on Monday afternoon recovered the body of what they believe is that of a missing North Fort Myers woman, who disappeared last week while going for an early evening jog.
While forensic evidence was pending, it was believed the body of Arielle Reis Coutinho Valdes was found after the 21 year old disappeared while running along Florida’s Caloosahatchee River, Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno stated in a Facebook post.
‘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,’ Marceno said.
No foul play, avid runner was battling depression
Shared surveillance video showed Arielle Valdes running across the Edison Bridge at approximately 6:50 p.m. on Wednesday, the day she was last seen leaving her home off 90th block of Mariana Avenue in North Fort Myers.
Valdes according to family was an avid jogger and had been training for a marathon. The 5ft’4 hundred pound runner was last seen in a beige hoodie, gym shorts, and black and white high-top shoes, FOX4 reported.
‘Please, if someone knows anything about her, we can’t sleep,’ Arielle’s mother, Priscila Coutinho previously posted on social media. ‘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.’
During an attempt to locate the missing 21-year-old over the weekend, Valdez’s family was handing out flyers at Terry Park along Palm Beach Boulevard. They also set up a table at Centennial Park.
The cause and manner of death remained pending the completion of an autopsy report.
Officials indicated there was no initial evidence to indicate that foul play was involved. Investigators also do not believe anyone pushed her into the water.
Of note, Valdez had been battling depression.
