Missing Mom of 7 Found Dead in Submerged Car as Police Say Say Her Death Is 'Questionable'

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The family of Consuelo Bernabe is seeking answers after her body was found in a Dodge Caravan in the Brazos River
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Family members said Consuelo Bernabe, 39, was last seen at a bar in Lott, Texas, on Aug. 15
The Waco Police Department later confirmed that Bernabe's body had been found inside a Dodge Caravan submerged in the Brazos River
Authorities said in a news release that the "questionable death" investigation is ongoing
A mother of seven children, who was last seen almost a week ago, was found dead in a vehicle submerged in a Texas river. Now, police are investigating what they call a 'questionable death.'
The Waco Police Department confirmed in a Tuesday, Aug. 19, update that the victim inside the Dodge Caravan found on Monday, Aug. 18, was Consuelo Bernabe, 39.
Maria Romero, a daughter of Bernabe, stated in a Sunday, Aug. 17, social media post that her mother had gone missing two days earlier, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported.
'If anybody seen my mother in Waco tx please text me she been missing since Friday COME BACK HOME imy😔🫶🏼Consuelo Bernabe,' Romero wrote.
On Monday morning, authorities were notified that the Caravan had been found in the Brazos River near North University Parks Drive and Jefferson Avenue, the Waco Police Department said in a news release.
'Waco Fire dive team, Texas Game Wardens, and Tow King assisted in pulling the car out of the river,' the department's statement read. 'Once the car was removed a female victim was located.'
The department added the victim's next of kin was notified.
No further details in the case were made immediately available, and police said the investigation is ongoing.
David Romero, Bernabe's son, remembered that his mother always smiled, and told CBS affiliate KWTX that "she always took care of her kids," who were "her main priority."
David also said it was uncharacteristic of his mother to disappear and not tell anyone.
'I wasn't trying to overthink. I was like, 'But that's not like my mom.' She always has her phone on her, she'll answer any call and message that you send her,' he told KWTX.
Hermelinda Romero, another daughter of Bernabe, told ABC affiliate KXXV that her mother was last seen at a bar in Lott on Friday. She suspected foul play, saying, "someone had to be involved" in her mother's death.
Hermelinda told KXXV that her mother called the family while out at the bar where she had last been seen, and said she was waiting for a man to come and pick her up. Bernabe's family told the outlet they believed she had been intoxicated at the time of the call.
"I feel like it was the guy she was last with, he had to have something to do with it but we don't know why,' Hermelinda said.
PEOPLE contacted the Waco Police Department on Wednesday, Aug. 20. In a statement shared with KXXV, the department said:
'As the release states, this is a questionable death investigation and we will not know more until autopsy results come back to determine the cause of her death. All the information released is what is available at this time.'
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Following the discovery of the vehicle in the Brazos, Maria paid tribute to her mother on Facebook, writing, in part, on Monday, 'Rest in peace ma I love you so much words can't explain I wanna see your beautiful smile again now every time I go in your room i will cry and just be like why you but we will get JUSTICE SERVED can't wait to see again."
Hermelinda has organized a GoFundMe to help pay for Bernabe's funeral expenses.
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