Florida
Missing Florida woman's submerged minivan found a decade after her disappearance, along with human remains
Missing Florida woman’s submerged minivan, remains found
The van of a Melbourne woman missing since 2014 has been discovered in a retention pond just over a mile from her home, with human remains found inside, authorities confirmed.
BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – The vehicle of a Melbourne woman missing since 2014 has been discovered in a retention pond just over a mile from her home, with human remains found inside, authorities confirmed.
Investigators say Katya Belaya was last seen in September 2014. She told her children she was heading to the store but never arrived.
Belaya drove off in her minivan, which was located on Dec. 20, 2024, by Sunshine State Sonar, following new information provided by the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office the day prior.
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“We received additional information on that case that was not posted online — cellphone ping data from that evening — and that is ultimately what led us to that particular area where we located that vehicle,” said Mike Sullivan with Sunshine State Sonar.
The remains found inside the van are being analyzed, and DNA test results are pending. Authorities are working to determine how the vehicle ended up in the pond. The investigation remains ongoing.
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The Source: This story was written based on information shared by the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office and Sunshine State Sonar.
FORT MYERS, Fla. – An injured manatee and her calf are recovering after authorities on a boat rescued them from the Orange River near Fort Myers on Thursday.
What we know:
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office said its Marine Unit, Advanced Technology Support Unit, drone pilots and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission helped in saving the pair after the mother was found hurt in the water and in need of medical attention.
READ: Missing Florida man found stuck in mud without food or water for days: PFD
Video shows authorities pulling the frantic manatees safely onto the boat in netting before taking them to shore.
Courtesy: Lee County Sheriff’s Office
Both animals will be taken to ZooTampa for evaluation and medical care.
What we don’t know:
LCSO did not say the extent of the mother’s injuries.
By the numbers:
As of Feb. 20, there have been 85 manatee deaths across Florida in 2026, according to the FWC. Last year reportedly saw a total of 632 manatee deaths.
Dig deeper:
Earlier this month, the FWC began investigating a spike in manatee deaths, specifically in Lee County, where officials say 25 were found dead within a week.
READ: FWC investigating spike in manatee deaths over the past week
The FWC believes these manatee deaths could be from several factors: cold stress, a lack of seagrass and polluted waterways.
The Source: Information for this story was provided by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
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