VICTORIA, Texas — Authorities in Victoria believe the body of a missing woman was found Tuesday in a creek near Patriot Park, about 16 miles away from where the 20-year-old was last seen more than a week ago.
The Victoria Police Department said Amanda Stevenson was reported missing by her mother at about 10:30 a.m. last Tuesday.
After that, VPD said they worked "tirelessly" chasing down leads trying to find her.
Around noon this Tuesday, authorities said they got a call about a body in a creek near a bridge near Patriot Park in Victoria. They said they think it's Stevenson. They ordered an autopsy to confirm her identity and find out how she died.
Details
Stevenson's phone was found, but it was locked with an unknown password. Police said they were working to get it open to find out who she was communicating with before she went missing.
Police said they found out that she knew 45-year-old Kevin Bennetsen, who worked for a rideshare service.
Detectives interviewed Bennetsen about Amanda's whereabouts early in the investigation, but when they tried to pull him over to ask more questions, police said he killed himself. The Texas Rangers are investigating that incident, VPD said. The vehicle he was driving was taken into police custody.
Police said they then searched the areas the man was known to frequently visit. They said they searched a piece of property near Yoakum with scent dogs and drones several times but nothing was found.
VPD said it alerted other police departments within a 200-mile radius.
Anyone with information about Stevenson's death is asked to call Victoria Crime Stoppers at 361-572-4200.