Body found in SUV in Pearland pond confirmed to be missing mom Erica Hernandez

Thursday, May 13, 2021
Pearland PD looking into 'all details' in Erica Hernandez's death
Pearland PD looking into 'all details' in Erica Hernandez's deathHere's where police stand in the investigation into Erica Hernandez's death after her body was confirmed to be inside the vehicle pulled from a Pearland pond.

PEARLAND, Texas (KTRK) -- The body found inside an SUV submerged in a Pearland pond has been confirmed to be the Houston mother who's been missing for weeks.

As we're still waiting for the identification of the body found in the vehicle pulled from a Pearland pond, family told ABC13 they're not done.

Erica Hernandez, a single mother to three children, was the subject of an intense search since she vanished after leaving a friend's home in southwest Houston last month.

Family said Hernandez left her friend's home in the 6000 block of Benning Drive around 2:30 a.m. on April 18. She reportedly sent a text around 3:04 a.m. stating she was "five minutes away from getting home."

On Tuesday, her SUV was discovered in the small body of water at Reflection Bay and N. Clear Lake, in Shadow Creek Ranch. The Galveston County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed on Wednesday that the person found inside the vehicle was indeed Hernandez.

WATCH: 'It's not over' Family says after missing mom's car found in pond

The family of Erica Hernandez said they are not done looking for answers in her case, as they said she would not be in the area where a car matching hers was found.

The sister of Hernandez spoke to the media at the site of the discovery on Tuesday saying the family felt numb and sick to their stomach.

Last week, the search for Hernandez took investigators to a Missouri City park. But the truck that sonar helped locate beneath the water there was not related to the missing woman's case.

SEE ALSO: Vehicle found underwater at Missouri City park is not tied to missing mom Erica Hernandez, HPD says

Investigators said the search for Erica Hernandez led them to a Missouri City park. She has been missing since mid-April and so has her vehicle.

Authorities could not confirm if foul play is involved. Pearland police will now lead the investigation.

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