Missing South Bend Mothers Found in Submerged Vehicle

Murder Files Unsealed · Sep 17, 2026 · 29m · transcript

Authorities in Niles, Michigan, recently discovered two deceased women inside a submerged vehicle within the Saint Joseph River. The victims appear to be Alexa Navarro and Vanessa Bautista, two mothers from South Bend who were reported missing after a night out with friends. Following an extensive search involving drones and K-9 units, investigators located the car at the bottom of an embankment. While the recovery brings a tragic end to the search, the Niles City Police are continuing their investigation to determine the exact cause of the crash. Family and community members had spent days…