Devastating update as missing teacher Robert Heikka’s car is found three years after he disappeared
A car belonging to a man who disappeared almost three years ago was found with a body inside.
Robert Heikka – a middle school teacher from Port Orange, Florida – disappeared in 2020.
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On Saturday, police announced the missing teacher’s vehicle had been discovered about 10 miles from town.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Heikka family,” the Port Orange Police Department said in a Facebook post, describing the case as “solved.”
The white 2012 Chevrolet Impala, covered in a thick layer of dirt and grime, was found submerged in a canal by a group of volunteers.
Police believe the driver lost control on a sharp turn and hurtled through 75 feet of trees before the car sank into the canal.
The car was only visible because the water level in the area had dropped sharply.
Investigators have looked at the location in the past when searching for Heikka and thought it unlikely that he ended up there.
The volunteers were able to see the vehicle’s registration plates, confirming that it belonged to Heikka.
“Thanks to Sunshine State Sonar and Recon Dive Recovery for locating the vehicle and confirming the tag,” the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office said in a tweet.
Rescue teams were working to pull the vehicle out of the canal when they found the body inside.
The body has not been positively identified as Heikka, but police have notified his family of the discovery.
The search for the teacher began the day after his disappearance, when colleagues feared he never showed up for work.
He was last seen at an ATM near Canaveral Shores on October 25, 2020.
Heikka has worked for the Volusia County School System since 1989 and at Creekside Middle School in Port Orange since 2002.
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