Car Pulled From Water Matches That Of Missing Couple
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- Family and friends held a brief vigil beside a body water in southwest Miami-Dade where a car with two bodies had been pulled out of on Thursday.
Some wept while others threw white roses into the water.
Miami-Dade Police said the 2010 red Toyota Corolla pulled from the water belongs to Alexandra 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.
Relatives said Arana lived in the area and knew the road well.
"I can tell you that we are extremely grateful to Miami Dade Police for helping us solve this case," said the victim's family attorney Susy Ribero-Ayala.
Chopper 4 was over the scene at 268th street and southwest 107th avenue as crews pulled the car out around 2:30 p.m.
Related: Miami-Dade Police Ask For Help Locating Missing Couple
Officers say the car was found submerged in the water with two bodies inside – which have not been identified.
"We don't have any details on how they ended up in the lake," said Ribero-Ayala. "They are devastated. It has not been confirmed but they are devastated."
The car, police said, was taken to the Medical Examiner's Office.
"I cannot imagine being a parent. I have two kids. I don't wish this on anybody. This is a really, really sad situation," said the victim's family friend J.C. Alvarez.
Alvarez had helped search for the couple. He and private investigator Joe Carillo said an important discovery was made.
"This was a joint effort and we were able to establish…that there was a cell phone hit in this sea," said Carillo.
Alvarez said police were told about that discovery and believes it helped them pinpoint the area where the car was found.
"Cellphone turned off somewhere in this area. We looked last night till 3:30 in the morning," said Alvarez.
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.
Now investigators will try to determine how the deadly crash happened in the darkness of an early morning last Sunday.
