The mysterious death of a Florida woman, whose body was discovered near a highway, has sparked a complex homicide investigation that authorities are striving to decipher.
Amber Renee Estep, aged 39, was last seen alive on January 16, when she exited her husband's vehicle during a dispute. Her mother reported her missing three days later after she failed to show up for work under suspicious circumstances.
On January 20, a local resident discovered Estep's body near Pit Bull Lane on Highway 46 in Mims, Florida, and alerted the police.
Her spouse, Brian Estep, was subsequently interrogated by the Brevard County Sheriff's Office. Sheriff Wayne Ivey stated that "within hours" of the questioning, Brian's pickup truck was found "fully engulfed in flames."
The case, which is being treated as a homicide, has attracted significant attention on social media after images and videos of Brian's burning truck went viral.
"Within several hours after our agents interviewed (Brian) Estep, his pickup truck was found in Port St. John completely engulfed in flames," Ivey said during a news briefing on January 25.
Law enforcement officials and fire marshals are collaborating to "determine exactly what took place and the cause of the blaze," according to Ivey, but no definitive update has been provided yet.
Port St. John, where the truck was found, is approximately 15 miles northwest of Merritt Island. This is where the couple had an argument during their drive home from a medical appointment, Brian informed investigators, as per the sheriff's statement.
Brian told the police that Amber "requested to be let out of the vehicle," and he left her near the intersection of Interstate 95 and Highway 50, roughly 14 miles from where her body was later discovered in Mims, Florida.
This incident occurred on January 16, which was reportedly the last time Amber was seen alive, as per Ivey.
Upon discovering the body, a local resident alerted the police, and a crime scene was established.
Detectives are still trying to determine the cause of Amber's death, but no arrests have been made so far, Ivey stated. He did not identify a suspect or person of interest, but noted that Brian has been cooperating with the investigation.
A GoFundMe page set up in Amber's memory described her as a "sweet and loving young woman who was taken from this world before her time."
"Nobody deserves to go through anything like this," wrote the organizer, Shawn Leet. "The family is devastated by this horrific tragedy. Anything truly helps. Thank you and God bless you."
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