LOG CABIN, Texas — UPDATE [Feb. 18] — A female's body discovered in a submerged car in Cedar Creek Lake last week has been positively identified as that of missing woman Brenda Montanez.
LOG CABIN, Texas — UPDATE [Feb. 18] — A female's body discovered in a submerged car in Cedar Creek Lake last week has been positively identified as that of missing woman Brenda Montanez.
Last week, police recovered Montanez's vehicle from the lake in Log Cabin, Texas, discovered a female body inside, and sent the body for autopsy and positive identification.
Police say there was no trauma to Montanez's body and her lungs were full of water, indicating she likely drowned. The exact cause of death is pending toxicology results. At this time, police say no foul play is suspected.
ORIGINAL [Feb.15 ] — The vehicle of a missing Addison woman was pulled from Cedar Creek Lake after search crews used sonar imaging to pinpoint its location near a boat ramp in Log Cabin, Texas, earlier today.
Police and family members confirm to inForney.com that the vehicle belonged to 25-year-old Brenda Lizbeth Montanez, who was last seen on January 27, 2019.
Henderson County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse says investigators discovered a deceased female inside the vehicle after it was pulled from the lake. The body has been sent to American Forensics for an autopsy and positive identification.
A family member tells inForney.com they were able to make the scene of the discovery but not before the body had already been transported to the medical examiner's office. The family member did confirm the vehicle belonged to Montanez.
Hillhouse says they have been searching the area for two weeks with the assistance of Team Watters Sonar Search and Recovery out of Illinois. Once sonar identified a possible hit on a vehicle, the Kaufman County Dive Team was called to assist in recovering the vehicle.
The dive team arrived at the boat ramp at Alamo Drive in Log Cabin at approximately 4 p.m. and had recovered the vehicle by about 4:30 p.m.
Hillhouse says the investigation remains open. The Log Cabin Police Department is investigating with assistance from the Henderson County Sheriff's Office and the Texas Rangers.
According to Montanez's family, she had left a family gathering in Addison to drive to her boyfriend's house in Log Cabin. The boyfriend told the family Montanez showed up at his house but he did not allow her inside and she left. This was the last time anyone had heard from Montanez.
Police have not said if any charges are pending in the case.