Update: Missing Bay Area Woman's Car Found in Lake

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office has recovered Apryl Foster’s vehicle.

The missing Brandon woman’s car was found Sunday in a lake near her home.

The sheriff’s office announced that divers were on the scene at Open Field Loop and Rain Dance Place just after 5 p.m.

The Tampa Police Department subsequently announced that a person wearing clothing that matched what Foster was wearing at the time of her disappearance was also located.

Police, however, stopped short of saying for certain the person found in the car is Foster.

“The medical examiner’s office will officially identify the victim found in Apryl Foster’s submerged vehicle,” the department wrote on its Facebook page.

At this point, the cause of death of the person inside of the car is unclear with both the sheriff’s office and Tampa Police Department saying the Medical Examiner’s Office will make a final determination.

“Preliminary information at the time of this release (8:39 p.m. Sunday) does not indicate any foul play, however, keep in mind the investigation is still early and ongoing,” the sheriff’s office wrote in an email to media.

Foster, 33, was last seen on the morning of Feb. 12 after she left an Ybor City bar. Her disappearance prompted an intensive search that included a $25,000 reward for information that led to her or her vehicle’s whereabouts.

“HCSO and TPD as well as the parents of the Foster family would like to express their extreme gratitude to the Tampa Bay community as well as the Tampa Bay media for their efforts in helping search for Apryl Foster,” the sheriff’s office’s email stated.

Apryl Foster’s parents were present at Sunday’s scene and are aware of the car’s discovery, the sheriff’s office noted.

Further details are not yet available.

Stay with Patch for more on this story.

See Also:

Reward Rises to $25,000 in Apryl Foster Case

Editor’s note: This story was updated at 8:47 p.m. Feb. 22 to include the latest information from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.

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