Missing South Bend native found deceased

MONROE COUNTY, Mo. -- 23-year-old Raffaella Maria Stroik, a South Bend native reported missing in St. Louis on Monday, has been found deceased.

Her body was found in Mark Twain Lake Wednesday morning, south of the boat ramp parking lot where a state park ranger found her vehicle unattended.

A pilot in a private plane saw a person in the water and notified the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

The Water Patrol Division responded to the scene and recovered Stroik's body.

Stroik's car was found unattended at the Mark Twain Lake State Park Highway boat ramp parking lot, two hours from the Whole Foods where she was last seen on Monday.

Police say her wallet and phone were found in the vehicle and the keys were on top of the vehicle.

Raffaella was a dancer for the Saint Louis Ballet.

Saint Joseph High School statement on death of Rafaella Stroik

The Saint Joseph High School community expresses profound grief over the passing of alumna Raffaella Stroik.

“This is a sad time for the Saint Joe family,” states John Kennedy, Principal of Saint Joseph High School. “We pray earnestly for the repose of Raffaella’s soul, for the healing of the Stroik family, and for all those who knew and loved Raffaella.” 

Saint Joseph High School faculty, staff and students invite the community to join in prayer on Thursday, November 15 at 7:30 a.m. Fr. Steve LaCroix will offer a Mass for Raffaella and the Stroik family in the Chapel of Saint Joseph on the school campus. All are welcome to attend.

The Saint Louis Ballet issued the following statement

We mourn the death of our friend and colleague Raffaella Maria Stroik. She was a wonderful dancer and a beautiful person. We extend our condolences to her family. We are so very sad.