Two Missing Indiana Mothers Found Dead in Submerged Jeep as Police Investigate Unanswered Questions

The search for two missing young mothers from South Bend, Indiana, ended in tragedy after their bodies were found inside a submerged Jeep in the St. Joseph River in Niles, Michigan.

Vanessa Bautista, 24, and Alexa Navarro, 23, were reported missing in the early morning hours of September 13, 2026, after attending a birthday celebration in Elkhart, Indiana. The two friends were last known to have been in the Elkhart area, while family members later said their phones had been tracked to Niles.

On September 15, Niles police discovered a gray 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee submerged in the St. Joseph River. Two bodies were recovered from the vehicle, and their clothing matched descriptions of Bautista and Navarro. The Berrien County medical examiner later confirmed that the bodies were those of the two missing women.

Investigators are now working to determine exactly what happened before the Jeep entered the river. Niles Police Chief James Millin said authorities are looking into reports that the women may have been followed or chased, either after leaving an establishment in Elkhart or while they were in Niles. However, Millin emphasized that investigators are still trying to determine whether those reports are factual and what role, if any, they may have played.

At this time, there is no public evidence showing that another person intentionally forced the Jeep into the river. Millin said investigators believe the vehicle went over an embankment and traveled down a steep slope estimated at 60 to 70 feet, striking trees before entering the water. The extensive damage to the Jeep is consistent with the vehicle’s fall, according to the police chief.

The cause of the women’s deaths has not yet been publicly determined. Autopsies and toxicology testing are expected to take several weeks, and those results could provide additional information about the circumstances surrounding their deaths.

The discovery came after an extensive search involving multiple law-enforcement agencies and members of the community. Family and friends had been desperately looking for the women since they disappeared on September 13.

Navarro and Bautista were described by loved ones as close friends and devoted mothers. Their deaths have left their families and the South Bend community searching for answers while investigators continue examining the events leading up to the crash.

For now, police have not publicly established whether the Jeep entered the river because of an accident, another circumstance, or something else. The investigation remains active, with officials continuing to examine the vehicle, witness statements and the pending medical-examiner results.

Source: People.com