Bodies Found In Body Of Water Identified As Missing Couple
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- Two bodies found inside a car submerged in a body of water have been identified as a couple reported missing over the weekend.
Miami-Dade Police say the bodies are that of Alexandra Picon and Brandon Arana, both 21 years old.
Just a day before, crews pulled a 2010 red Toyota Corolla from the water in southwest Miami-Dade near 268th Street and southwest 107th Avenue.
Police said the car belonged to Picon.
"Investigators were able to determine that this was the vehicle that both Alexandra Picon and Brandon Arana were in when the were reported missing," said Det. Jennifer Capote with Miami-Dade Police on Thursday.
The car was found after a family friend, J.C. Alvarez, and private investigator, Joe Carillo, helped search for the couple.
"This was a joint effort and we were able to establish… that there was a cell phone hit in this sea," said Carillo.
Related: Miami-Dade Police Ask For Help Locating Missing Couple
Alvarez said police were told about that discovery and believes it helped them pinpoint the area where the car was found.
Picon's mother said her daughter had worked her regular shift at the World of Beer at the Town and Country Mall and texted her at 3 a.m. Sunday that she was going to have a drink with Arana.
At 4:43 a.m., her car was last seen going through a toll plaza at Kendall Drive. She never made it home.
"This is out of her character. She has never done anything like that before to disappear for more than a few hours without sending me a text, trying not to worry me. This is totally out of her character," said Alexandra's mother Rita Picon.
Investigators are trying to determine how the deadly crash happened.
