The girl was last seen getting into a friend's car as she left Niko Niko's restaurant on I-10 and the Beltway this past Saturday. Sources say a relative usually picked her up from work, but she told her relative that a friend was picking her up on Saturday. That was the last time anyone saw her alive.
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Sunday morning, a passer-by saw her body on the side of the road in rural Liberty county.
The Liberty County Sheriff's Office said she was found dead at about 8:30 a.m. Sunday from what appears to be a gunshot wound. They said she was wearing a hairnet, shirt, and blue cap that said "Niko's" on it.
"I can't promise anyone is going to get arrested soon," Liberty County Captain Ken Defoor said. "But, you can rest assured, we're going to find out who did this, and they will be arrested. That is confirmed. They will be arrested."
Staff at Niko Niko's Greek and American Cafe near Beltway 8 confirmed with ABC13 that the victim was one of their employees who bussed tables. They declined to go on camera until more details are released but said they are devastated by the news, sharing that she was last seen at work Saturday evening.
Liberty County investigators have refused to release the young woman's identity, even though names of deceased individuals are public records.
However, ABC13 found that the girl lived in an apartment complex just a few blocks from her workplace. Neighbors at the complex said the 16-year-old also worked at a McDonald's. It's unclear if she attended high school. The girl shared the apartment with her mother and at least one other relative. They were not home Tuesday afternoon.
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Sources tell ABC13 that video possibly capturing the young woman and the car she got into are now in the hands of law enforcement.
While investigators are being tight-lipped about the specifics of what they know, they say that they do not believe this is a random act. They do not believe there is a threat to other individuals in the community.
If you know anything about this case, authorities urge you to contact the Liberty County Sheriff's Office at (936) 336-4500 or Multi-County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-392-STOP.
Tips leading to the responsible person's arrest may receive a cash reward, and the caller's identity will remain anonymous.
SEE ORIGINAL REPORT: 16-year-old found shot to death on roadside in north Liberty County, deputies say
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