The Lake County Coroner's Office in Illinois have confirmed worst fears, saying that the body discovered Tuesday in a local retention pond belonged to missing college student, Brissa Romero, 17.
"Preliminary autopsy results indicate that there were no significant injuries and that Brissa Romero's death is consistent with drowning," they wrote in a statement obtained by Law&Crime. "The investigation into the incident is ongoing by the Vernon Hills Police Department, the Carpentersville Police Department, the Major Crash Assistance Team (MCAT) of Lake County, and the Lake County Coroner's Office."
Cops did not immediately identify the remains on Tuesday, but the teenager's loved ones prepared for the worst. Her family prayed at the Shrine of Our Lady Guadalupe in Des Plaines last night, according to WFLD.
"We just spoke to the priest, and they were able to give us her blessing and was able to speak with us," Brissa's sister, Dulce Romero, told the outlet. "Just calm our nerves down a little bit more, and if that is Brissa, then she's in good hands with our Virgin Mary."
Law enforcement said Tuesday there were currently no signs of foul play.
Brissa Romero, 17, went missing while on the way to a holiday work party, police said. (Images: Village of Carpentersville Public Safety)
As previously reported, Brissa Romero disappeared on Dec. 4 while on her way to a holiday work party at the Bowlero bowling alley in the Chicago-area city of Vernon Hills.
Available surveillance footage tracked her final moments in areas like Des Plaines, where police said she visited a family member. There's also surveillance video from the village of Schaumburg, where her family reportedly said she picked up an iPad.
In a joint statement, the police departments for Vernon Hills and Romero's village of Carpentersville said that Romero's cellphone last pinged in the area of a retention pond near Lakeview Parkway and Executive Way in Vernon Hills.
"Preliminary investigation suggests the car was accidentally driven into the pond after the driver failed to navigate the T-intersection," police said.
BREAKING: Divers in Vernon Hills have pulled a body from the retention pond that has been at the center of the search for missing 17-year-old Brissa Romero.
Her car was pulled from the pond Monday.
Police believe she drove her car into the pond Dec 4. @cbschicago pic.twitter.com/m6pqaOLXRT
— Charlie De Mar (@CharlieDeMar) December 12, 2023
Citing footage from a nearby fast food restaurant, authorities believe Romero was driving.
"Several items belonging to Brissa, including a backpack containing identifying information, were then found along the pond's shore," authorities said.
Note: We added a statement from the coroner's office.
