By Monica Land
MADISON – Abigail Bonner's body was found yesterday near Madison Avenue and Rice Road. The 17-year-old was reported missing nearly two weeks ago from her home in the Belle Rose subdivision.
Investigators reportedly found the body Tuesday night in a wooded area about a mile away from her home, WJTV reported.
“We received information of an odor. We sent an investigator to search for the odor and at the same time located the body,” recalls the Madison Police Chief.
WAPT however, reported Tuesday night that an “investigator said he was jogging in the area of Rice Road and Madison Avenue when he smelled something,” the Clarion Ledger said.
Some have questioned this explanation, pointing to the close proximity of houses and an elementary school to the woods where the body was found.
Bonner went missing on Aug. 3, and she was at first considered to be a missing person and then a runaway. Her case has now turned into a death investigation.
No cause of death has been released.
Bonner’s family took to several social media sites hoping that someone would spot the missing teen and contact the authorities.
As word came that a body had been found, her uncle, Maurice Velasquez, kept the more than 12,000 “Friends” on Facebook updated as to the situation.
“This afternoon, the family was notified by the Madison Police Department that they had found a body, they were investigating scene and that an autopsy is being performed,“ he said in a post. “Several of the TV stations have been running updates on the matter. Many relatives are in route to be with the family. Once the autopsy report is released, I will try to provide you with an update. In the interim, we would ask that you please continue to pray for all of us.”
The case remains under investigation.
Funeral services for Bonner will be Friday, Aug. 16 at 11 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Jackson. Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m.
