Officials believe it was a missing Chester woman whose body was recovered from a car submerged in the Delaware
Kortney Staples, 33, was last seen by her family on July 11. Police said there were no initial indications of foul play, but the investigation is ongoing.
The body believed to be that of a missing 33-year-old Chester woman was recovered Sunday from a vehicle submerged in the Delaware River, divers and family members said.
Kortney Staples, a home healthcare nurse, was last seen by her family on July 11. She was reported missing on July 18 and since then her family has waged a tenacious public campaign to find her.
Official confirmation that Staples has been found will be determined by the Delaware County Medical Examiner’s Office.
“The individual’s preliminary description is consistent with that of Kortney Staples; however, formal identification is pending and will be made through the appropriate investigative and medical procedures,” Chester officials said in a statement.
Chester police said there were no initial indications of foul play, but the investigation is ongoing.
Chaos Divers, a volunteer sonar search-and-recovery team, reported that they found her body inside a gray Nissan Altima in the waters off Chester. Officials said the location was near Front and Norris Street, not far frome the Commodore Barry Bridge.
The dive team said they found the car almost immediately on Sunday afternoon and they posted a photo of the license plate taken from the sunken car. The plate matches the woman’s vehicle.
“Working in conjunction with Chester Police Department law, fire departments, Station 77 Dive and Rescue, and Rob’s Towing, Kortney and her vehicle were recovered flawlessly,” Chaos Divers posted on Facebook.
Police said the vehicle was removed from the water around 7:45 p.m.
“To Kortney’s family, friends, and everyone who knew and loved her, we offer our deepest and most heartfelt condolences. We hope that bringing Kortney home provides some measure of answers as her loved ones begin the incredibly difficult journey ahead,” said Chaos Divers, who are based in Illinois.
Chester Mayor Stefan Roots called the discovery of the body “a heartbreaking development, and our entire Chester community stands with Kortney’s family and loved ones during this extraordinarily difficult time.
Family members also said they believe that their search is over.
“Yall no longer have to share the missing post…..it warms my heart to see my sister up & down my timeline & kno that she was much loved,” Koron Staples, Kortney’s brother, wrote on Facebook.
Chester police urged anyone with information about what happened to Kortney Staples or her gray Nissan Altima, particularly on the days between July 5 and 18, should contact Capt. El’lan Morgan at 484-745-6662 or Emorgan223@chesterpolice.org, or Det. Astrid Cottrell at835-220-9549 or acottrell321@chesterpolice.org.
“Even information that may appear insignificant could be helpful to the investigation,” the police department said.
