The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office and the Polk County Sheriff's Office have positively identified the remains of Kelly Vazquez, who went missing on May 21, 2021.
The Polk County Sheriff's Office located human remains on September 25, 2023. In the past week, our detectives received positive confirmation that those remains were Vazquez. Our detectives were able to notify Vazquez's family this week.
"After years of committed investigation, we bring closure to a chapter of uncertainty that has haunted this community since 2021," said Sheriff Chad Chronister. "Through collaborative efforts, we have located the remains of Kelly Vasquez, and we hope that in this discovery, we've given her family a measure of closure amidst their profound grief."
This is still an active investigation as our detectives are working alongside the Polk County Sheriff's Office to determine a cause of death.
The Public Affairs Office will release any further information.