Investigators said a gray Nissan Altima matching the description of 33-year-old Kortney Staples' car was found Sunday night submerged in the Delaware River where Norris Street dead ends.
https://6abc.com/post/body-found-car-pulled-delaware-river-believed-missing-chester-woman-kortney-staples/19654114/
Police said a body discovered inside the vehicle matches Staples' tattoos.
Divers who went into the water and discovered the car also pulled up the license plate, which matches Staples' car.
The Delaware County Medical Examiner is still working to make an official identification and determine the cause of death.
The discovery came as Chester police continued investigating Staples' disappearance.
According to police, Staples was last seen July 11. A photograph taken at 4:23 a.m. July 12 showed her car on Highland Avenue South.
Chester City Police revealed Staples may have been struggling with the recent loss of her father before she disappeared.
"It was some concern that she had recently lost her father, so she was feeling depressed over that," said Capt. El'Lan Morgan of the Chester City Police Department.
Police said the area where the vehicle was recovered had previously been fenced off, but the fence had been damaged. Investigators also said the front of Staples' car was damaged.
"It's difficult, and it's really impacted the community and people who loved the Staples family and supported the Staples family," Chester Police Commissioner Katrina Blackwell said.
Authorities said the vehicle was located after a friend of the family contacted Chaos Divers, a dive team out of Southern Illinois that searches for missing people across the country at no charge.
"She contacted us and said, 'One of my friends. Her sister is missing. Can you guys help?'" said Lindsay Bussick, manager of Chaos Divers.
Bussick said the team used Staples' home address and the location shown in the last known photograph of her vehicle to identify a section of water to search. Divers found the car in less than 10 minutes.
The discovery has provided some measure of closure for Staples' family, Bussick said.
"It is incredibly heartbreaking, but it is something we are incredibly grateful that we're able to do," Bussick said. "I spoke with one of her sisters this morning, and she said, 'I slept last night.'"
Police continue to seek information about Staples' final movements and interactions before she disappeared.
"Even if you saw her or even if you spoke to her for a second, call the police," Blackwell said. "Everything helps us tie into her last moments, what happened."
Investigators said they do not suspect foul play. However, they are continuing to gather information as the investigation remains ongoing.