Found Deceased Va - Denise Martin, 22, Virginia Beach, 19 June 2018

[Ontario Mom]

Chenue Her 13News Now on Twitter

The man who’s yard police were searching let us back there. He said police found the body right behind his fence near the creek back there. The stench is very strong back there. Apparently, he said police told him that is the smell of a decomposed body. #13NewsNow

Unfortunately, once you've smelled it, you'll never forget it. And if you ever smell it again, you know instantly what it is. Even if this person is not Denise, it's someone who had a family and was loved. My heart goes out to whoever this is, and all those who loved them.

 

[wendy44]

No, not at the school. But it's just this somewhat "narrowly wooded" area--I think the trees are all in peoples backyards, separating them from the Catholic school. (I know I'm not explaining that very well).

I marked the 7-Eleven on the corner, too. I'm not positive if her friends actually searched the area, or simply checked the 7-Eleven for video.

Look at the very far right end of Edgehill Ave--that's where they found someone. There are trees and a creek behind the houses and it's right next to Red Mill Farms Park where they were searching this weekend.

 

[creepcrusher]

Look at the very far right end of Edgehill Ave--that's where they found someone. There are trees and a creek behind the houses and it's right next to Red Mill Farms Park where they were searching this weekend.

So do you think the body was there when they searched this weekend?

 

[Gardener1850]

Authorities in Virginia say they found a body as they searched a residential area in hopes of finding a missing local woman.

According to the Virginian Pilot, 22-year-old Denise Martin was last seen by her father near their Virginia Beach area home on June 19.

Police staged a search perimeter on Wednesday morning less than a mile from her home in Red Mill. As members of the search team scoured the area along Edgehille Avenue in a residential neighborhood, they reportedly found what appeared to be a human body in an area near two cul-de-sacs.

The discovery came at about 9 a.m., according to reports, and medical examiners reported to the scene to assist in the investigation. As of the latest updates available, the deceased individual had not been identified and no cause of death had been announced.

Team finds body during search for 22-year-old woman missing for a week: Police

 

[whitelilac]

I'm wondering about the fact that IF this is Denise, and IF it's a case of self harm....why she would not take her car to some out of the way spot. Right in the neighborhood behind someone's fence? Then, we don't know what was in her mind IF this is the case. A friend's son shot himself right in his backyard.

So sad, anyway you look at it. If not her, then someone else's loved one....

 

[Gardener1850]

At this point if this is Denise it could go either way. Strange place to find her if she took her own life.

This is true, it could go either way. I probably should not have posted my theory so soon but I feel like I've seen this same scenario too often from reading cases on this board. When a person leaves everything at home (phone, ID, etc), it's never good news. MOO.

 

[Sd8503]

I kinda wonder if the family wasnt really involved in the search because everyone knew and obviously her family didnt want to see her like that. Maybe there was a note and thats where the word hiding kept coming from. Obviously I have no idea I just wonder.

 

[azure]

EDIT: quoted the wrong post. Meant to reply to Gardener’s comment above!
I agree with you completely. I also think that if this were a homicide, there would likely have been a press conference.

 

[GraceG]

Unfortunately, once you've smelled it, you'll never forget it. And if you ever smell it again, you know instantly what it is. Even if this person is not Denise, it's someone who had a family and was loved. My heart goes out to whoever this is, and all those who loved them.

I'm a forensic anthropology Ph.D. and have worked as a coroner. I understand completely. It's heartbreaking. I've had to tell families of losses like this before and it's as hard for the ones telling as the ones receiving.

 

[ilovematt]

Still catching up, but as soon as I read about this case I immediately thought of AJ. Hoping and praying Denise's case turns out very differently.

Would you link AJ’s thread? I’ve heard that said several times and I want to read up on it. It’s probably user error but I couldn’t find her the tread. TIA

 

[Truth Prevails]

Would you link AJ’s thread? I’ve heard that said several times and I want to read up on it. It’s probably user error but I couldn’t find her the tread. TIA

Here is a link to AJ's threads in Specific Case Forums:

Anjelica "AJ" Hadsell

I never followed the case enough to comment on similarities.

I offer my prayers for Denise and all her friends who put their hearts and souls into searching for her.

 

[Truth Prevails]

Here is a video that I don't believe has been added to Denise's thread yet. (My apologies if I missed it). The reporter stresses that there has been no confirmation of identity, yet; and does a brief interview with the gentleman who owns the property describing how law enforcement showed up at his front door.

Body found while officials searched for missing woman

 

[Truth Prevails]

Some pictures and another video at the link:

VB police find body while looking for missing woman

 

[2Hope4]

I don't think this case is similar to AJ Hadsell's case. AJ was a heroin overdose, speculation is from her step father who is in prison on unrelated charges. Noone has been charged with killing AJ at this time.

Denise may have been dealing with a mental illness. I haven't seen anything that suspects drug use, or illegal activity.

 

[Ontario Mom]

Here is a link to AJ's threads in Specific Case Forums:

Anjelica "AJ" Hadsell

I never followed the case enough to comment on similarities.

I offer my prayers for Denise and all her friends who put their hearts and souls into searching for her.

A few things jumped out to me.

Same school
Similar age
Just home from school (AJ was spring break, Denise post grad)
Last seen at home by a family member in the morning
Suddenly missing without a trace
Same MSM posting about both girls

Sometimes, cases just parallel other cases without any real connection.

 

[NJJohn]

A few things jumped out to me.

Same school
Similar age
Just home from school (AJ was spring break, Denise post grad)
Last seen at home by a family member in the morning
Suddenly missing without a trace
Same MSM posting about both girls

Sometimes, cases just parallel other cases without any real connection.

There's definitely no connection, and the similarities are just superficial. AJ died of heroin poisoning that is (IMO) somehow connected to her psychopathic pathological liar ex-con drug dealer step-father. Her family situation was toxic in every way and it eventually led to her death. Nothing like that appears to be the case here. If there is any similarity, this seems most similar to Lindsey Piccone (if this turns out to be suicide as well), which is something that happened right across the river from me.

 

[Mouse]

This case kind of reminds me of Leanne Bearden; she's the young woman who backpacked around the world with her husband for a couple of years, and disappeared once they returned to the US. (There's a massive thread about her case in the WS archives somewhere.) Her body was found (suicide) not that far away from her in-laws' house (where she and her husband were staying while they contemplated their next steps in life), in a wooded residential area. If I remember correctly, she took her backpack with her as well (which made a lot of people discount suicide as a possible reason for her disappearance at first, because why take a backpack full of powerbars with you if you're not planning to be around long enough to eat them?).

Even though in cases like this it seems to us that these bright young people had good relationships, a great future, and seemingly everything to live for, it can be overwhelming to not know what your next step is supposed to be, maybe especially for someone who has always done well and now feels adrift once the travel/school part of their life is over.

Of course, I don't know that that's what happened here (and hopefully Denise just wanted to clear her head and is hunkered down somewhere), but I do think we forget or underestimate how scary and anchor-less it can feel to be faced with making a lot of decisions about the next big part of your life, even when it seems to the outside world that you should have the world by the tail.

 

[Ontario Mom]

There's definitely no connection, and the similarities are just superficial. AJ died of heroin poisoning that is (IMO) somehow connected to her psychopathic pathological liar ex-con drug dealer step-father. Her family situation was toxic in every way and it eventually led to her death. Nothing like that appears to be the case here. If there is any similarity, this seems most similar to Lindsey Piccone (if this turns out to be suicide as well), which is something that happened right across the river from me.

I realize there is no connection and didn't mean to imply I though there was. I simply said initially the details coming out reminded me of AJ's case (in the beginning). I'm well aware of AJ's toxic family life, I followed her case from day 1.

 

[Timekeeper65]

I realize there is no connection and didn't mean to imply I though there was. I simply said initially the details coming out reminded me of AJ's case (in the beginning). I'm well aware of AJ's toxic family life, I followed her case from day 1.

Same here. It was the Longview connection that brought AJ to mind.

 

[kelsie]

Her best friend/former roommate posted on the Bring Denise Home page that she doesn't believe it's her... but I don't know who else it would be.