A 23-year-old Taylor Swift fan who seemingly vanished without a trace has been found dead in her car just days after moving to Maine.
Autumn Danielle Cleveland of Virginia was first reported missing on Saturday. Two days later, she was found dead in her blue 2018 Mazda CX5 in Dayton, a small town in Maine about 25 miles southwest of Portland.
According to social media posts, the young woman had been staying in a rental home in Maine and when she checked out on Saturday morning, she had contacted her father, mother and sister, as per the Portland Press Herald.
The State Police Major Crime Unit South are investigating her death but said the public is not in danger, as per a news release.
A spokesperson would not comment on whether her death is suspicious. Officials said an autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause and manner of death.
Autumn Cleveland, 23, was reported missing on Saturday. She was found deceased on Monday
She was later found deceased on Monday inside her car
On Monday around 3:30 pm, someone had called 911 reporting a dead woman inside a parked car near Goodwins Mills Road in Dayton.
The person inside the vehicle matched Cleveland’s description, according to state police.
Her family said she was last seen driving a blue 2018 Mazda CX5 with Washington state plates around southern Maine, as per the news outlet.
Autumn’s devastated parents described her as ‘shy, soft-spoken’ and ‘anxious’ and having a few close friends.
Renee Cleveland, Autumn’s mom told the Portland Press Herald her daughter was ‘very selective about who she let into her life’.
Autumn’s family said she ‘loved Taylor Swift, cats and every type of sweet treat, especially chocolate’
Pictured: Autumn’s selfie she took presumably in the same car in which she was found dead
‘When she picked you, when she loved you, family or otherwise, there wasn’t any other love like hers,’ Renee said. ‘Her love languages were different than most. She showed you in tiny ways.’
Her family said Autumn ‘loved Taylor Swift, cats and every type of sweet treat, especially chocolate’.
Autumn’s sister Brooke Cleveland called her sister ‘very selfless’.
‘It wouldn’t matter if she was having the worst day ever, if somebody else was having a slightly bad day she would make sure to be there for them.’
The pair enjoyed spending time hiking together and would always end the day by getting ice cream.
Autumn’s sister Brooke Cleveland called her sister ‘very selfless’
Cleveland was found on Monday after state troopers were alerted to a woman dead in a parked car on Goodwins Mills Road (pictured) in Dayton, Maine, approximately 25 miles from Portland
Brooke said if my sister ‘ever shared any of (her sweets) with you, you knew you that you were in her good graces’.
Autumn’s father, Michael Cleveland, said that the pair had gone on a cross-country road trip before she went to Virginia and then to Maine.
‘Anybody that met her fell in love with her,’ Michael Cleveland said. ‘I know dads say that about all of their daughters, but it truly is true.’
Her mother said her daughter enjoyed traveling and seeing the world, a goal she wanted for herself before she settled down one day.
She was planning to return home around the holidays to spend her birthday – November 14 – with her family before going wedding dress shopping with her sister who was getting married.
Autumn’s mother said her daughter enjoyed traveling and seeing the world, a goal she wanted for herself before she settled down one day
Autumn was planning to return home around the holidays to spend her birthday
A GoFundMe was created by a family friend to help Cleveland’s family in their time of despair.
The money will go towards ‘travel between Virginia and Maine, travel accommodations, funeral and memorial expenses, living expenses during time off of work, food, and animal boarding and care,’ Christy Clements, the organizer wrote.
‘As the family navigates through this difficult time, your generosity will help to ease the burden of expenses and allow them to grieve without worry,’ she said.
As of Saturday, nearly $1,900 was raised toward their goal of $20,000.
