A mother of seven children, last seen nearly a week ago, was discovered dead in a vehicle submerged in a Texas river. Police are currently investigating what they call a “questionable death.”
Consuelo Bernabe, 39, was the victim inside the Dodge Caravan discovered on Monday, August 18. The Waco Police Department confirmed this in an update on Tuesday, August 19.
Maria Romero, Bernabe’s daughter, stated in a social media post on Sunday, Aug. 17, that her mother had gone missing two days earlier, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
“If anybody seen my mother in Waco tx please text me she been missing since Friday COME BACK HOME imy😔🫶🏼Consuelo Bernabe,” Romero e-mailed.
Authorities were notified Monday morning that the Caravan had been discovered in the Brazos River near North University Parks Drive and Jefferson Avenue, according to a Waco Police Department press release.
“Waco Fire dive team, Texas Game Wardens, and Tow King assisted in pulling the car out of the river,” according to the department’s statement. “Once the car was removed a female victim was located.”
According to the department, the victim’s next of kin was notified.
No additional information about the case was immediately available, and police said the investigation is ongoing.
Bernabe’s son, David Romero, recalled his mother’s constant smile and told CBS affiliate KWTX that “she always took care of her kids,” who were “her main priority.”
David also said it was unusual for his mother to disappear and not tell anyone.
“I was not trying to overthink. I said, ‘But that’s not like my mom.’ “She always has her phone with her and will answer any call or message you send her,” he told KWTX.
Bernabe’s other daughter, Hermelinda Romero, told ABC affiliate KXXV that her mother was last seen at a bar in Lott on Friday. She suspected foul play and stated, “Someone had to be involved” in her mother’s death.
Hermelinda told KXXV that her mother called the family from the bar where she was last seen, saying she was waiting for a man to pick her up. Bernabe’s family told the outlet that they believe she was intoxicated at the time of the call.
“I feel like it was the guy she was last with, he had to have something to do with it but we don’t know why,” said Hermelinda.
PEOPLE contacted the Waco Police Department on Wednesday, August 20. In a statement shared with KXXV, the department stated:
“As the release states, this is a questionable death investigation, and we will not know more until the autopsy results are returned to determine the cause of her death. “The information released is all that is currently available.”
Maria paid tribute to her mother on Facebook after the vehicle was discovered in the Brazos. She wrote, “Rest in peace ma I love you so much words can’t explain I wanna see your beautiful smile again now every time I go in your room I cry and just be like why you but we will get JUSTICE SERVED can’t wait to see again.”
Hermelinda has organized a GoFundMe to help pay for Bernabe’s funeral expenses.
