Two young mothers missing after celebrating a birthday
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- 23-year-old Alexa Navarro and 24-year-old Vanessa Bautista were last seen dropping off a friend in South Bend after celebrating Bautista’s birthday at ‘The Arena Nightclub’ in Elkhart, the two young moms told that friend they were going to get food next. According to family members.
According to family, Bautista’s last known location on Apple’s Find My Friends was right outside of Brown Funeral Home in Niles.
Earlier this morning family and friends of the women gathered outside the funeral home to begin their search.
"We know the last time someone had contact with her was 3:41 in the morning”, said Bautista’s cousin, Brisaida Moreno, “He was trusting them that they were going to go home and make it home safe, and after that we don't really know".
Family tells ABC57 Alexa only knows one person in Niles and they are not sure why the women would be in the area. They say they were traveling in Vanessa’s silver Jeep Grand Cherokee. The SUV had distinct markings: missing the passenger side tire cover, rust above the back tire, and blue paint scuff on the on the driver side front bumper, with the license plate number CGF426.
"We haven't heard from her. We have her location and it hasn't uploaded”, said Navarro’s cousin Brandi (does not want to share surname for security reasons), “She hasn't checked in on her child, and we know that's really not like her at all, and that's a problem".
Jeremy Ham is the father of Vanessa's two children. He says Vanessa keeps an organized schedule taking care of their kids. "If you guys want to help out… keep searching, keep looking”, said Ham, “We want them to come home, so if you know anything, just please reach out."
The women were last seen in the outfits that are showcased in the missing person's poster. We’ve reached out to Niles and South Bend Police, and right now, they haven't decided which department is leading the investigation.
If you have any information on the women or spot that silver Jeep Grand Cherokee, please call any local law enforcement immediately.