On Saturday, authorities pulled Terrilynn Monette’s missing car from a New Orleans bayou, reports CNN and Fox News. Police confirmed there was a body inside, but weren’t able to immediately determine if it was Monette.
Monette went missing on March 2nd and was last seen leaving a bar after celebrating her teacher of the year nomination with friends. She wanted to sleep before driving home. Monette eventually left the parking lot at 5:15 a.m.
Toni Enclade, Monette’s mother, was present Saturday. “I don’t understand why it took them so long to find her car,” said Enclade. “This is supposedly one of the first places they would have checked. I’m just overwhelmed. It doesn’t make sense.”
“I can’t even begin to go there right now,” said Enclade. “I’m in shock. I can’t believe this. I just can’t believe this.”
According to Louisiana state Representative Austin Badon, he and another volunteer diver decided to sonar the area once more and stumbled across the missing Honda Accord.
An autopsy will be conducted Monday to determine the identity of the recovered body.