Body recovered of Omni hotel worker who went missing during Hurricane Harvey
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- The body of a woman who vanished while working at the Omni Hotel during Hurricane Harvey has been recovered more than a week later.
Jill Renick, a 48-year-old Houston resident and director of spa services for the Omni Houston Hotel, had been missing since Sunday, Aug. 27. Her family was notified this morning that her body was found in the hotel.
Investigators said a maintenance worker discovered her body Thursday morning in the basement by the elevator bank.
Renick's family said she was staying on the fourth floor of the hotel when she was asked to assist families on the second floor as the hotel began to flood.
Her family said Renick was trapped and phone records show she called for help.
Renick's sister, Pam Eslinger, issued a statement on behalf of the family:
"It is with heavy hearts that the search for my sister, Jill Renick, has concluded with the confirmation of her death. We are heartbroken. To know Jill is to have loved her. She could light up a room just by walking in and adored life. She was loved by so many people and we will feel the impact of her absence in our hearts forever."
The hotel company also issued a statement: "We are very sad to report that a body has been found in the hotel. Authorities are on site and we are offering any assistance we can. While it has not been confirmed, we presume it is our beloved associate, Jill Renick. We are heartbroken and shaken by this development. We are communicating with the family to offer whatever assistance we can, and we are arranging grief counseling to help our associates process this shocking news. This is a difficult time for us all. We ask that you please respect everyone's privacy as we deal with our tragic loss."
FACES OF HARVEY: Those we lost during catastrophic hurricane and flooding
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