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

[Ontario Mom]

You'd think LE would have been able to ID this deceased person by now, especially if it is in fact Denise.

 

[kelsie]

Unrecognizable deceased person found in search for Denise Martin

"Due to the heat and the weather we have had in the area, a considerable amount of rain, the infestation, there was no way to make an immediate determination of who this individual was," said VBPD Public Affairs Officer Tonya Pierce.

 

[GraceG]

You'd think LE would have been able to ID this deceased person by now, especially if it is in fact Denise.

A body that's been outside, in an area of heat and dampness for as long as she has been missing will have to be identified by forensic odontology (dental records) or DNA.

 

[Ontario Mom]

A body that's been outside, in an area of heat and dampness for as long as she has been missing will have to be identified by forensic odontology (dental records) or DNA.

That's sort of what I was assuming, since the smell of decomp was so strong I assumed one of the first things they'd do was get dental impressions and compare those with Denise's to at least rule her out. Although I realize that often what seems obvious to those on the outside looking in, isn't always what it seems.

 

[Roobz]

i'm sad to say, but i think this is her, no one else announced that someone went missing from that area. You would think that if someone else was missing we would know.

 

[carbuff]

It wouldn't have to be somebody who was known to be missing. When I hear of a body found in a wooded area, I wonder about homeless people and drug overdoses, too.

 

[whitelilac]

I don't know, but the probability is that this is unfortunately Denise imo. Evidently this is a good neighborhood, not really a crime area. Denise is still missing, and the location is so close to home. I'd think a preliminary ID might have been determined by clothing and shoes, but nothing can be announced till a positive ID by the coroner.
So very sad....

 

[wendy44]

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

I don't really know. The park is mostly open space so you would think they would be searching those woods around the park. But they may have believed it was private property and didn't go behind those houses.

Here's what I find curious. Miriam said late Monday night that they would be updating everyone on foot searches to be taking place Tuesday. But there were no updates and no searches Tuesday. Late Tuesday night she said that they were suspending searches for the time being because they were waiting for instructions from the police. By 9 am Wednesday morning the police were knocking on the resident's door because they had found a body. So the police were out there in that area searching by early Wednesday (and possibly Tuesday) and it seems they had asked the volunteers not to go out.

 

[Sweetp0tat0]

My coworker lives on the intersecting street right before the cul de sac where the body was found and is friends/neighbors with one of the search members that found the body yesterday morning. He told her details that have not been released to the media yet and I'm not sure what is taking so long.

 

[Gardener1850]

Was a Missing College Grad's Decomposed Body Found in the Same Neighborhood She Vanished From?

 

[creepcrusher]

I don't really know. The park is mostly open space so you would think they would be searching those woods around the park. But they may have believed it was private property and didn't go behind those houses.

Here's what I find curious. Miriam said late Monday night that they would be updating everyone on foot searches to be taking place Tuesday. But there were no updates and no searches Tuesday. Late Tuesday night she said that they were suspending searches for the time being because they were waiting for instructions from the police. By 9 am Wednesday morning the police were knocking on the resident's door because they had found a body. So the police were out there in that area searching by early Wednesday (and possibly Tuesday) and it seems they had asked the volunteers not to go out.

I found that interesting as well. I saw her post and thought maybe LE had gotten some new information. She also posted that if this wasn't Denise she would update everyone on FB but if this is Denise she would let the media update the public. So far, I haven't seen an update. :/

 

[wendy44]

I found that interesting as well. I saw her post and thought maybe LE had gotten some new information. She also posted that if this wasn't Denise she would update everyone on FB but if this is Denise she would let the media update the public. So far, I haven't seen an update. :/

Agree. It seems like if they had been able to rule her out, we would have gotten an update.

 

[Gardener1850]

I don't really know. The park is mostly open space so you would think they would be searching those woods around the park. But they may have believed it was private property and didn't go behind those houses.

Here's what I find curious. Miriam said late Monday night that they would be updating everyone on foot searches to be taking place Tuesday. But there were no updates and no searches Tuesday. Late Tuesday night she said that they were suspending searches for the time being because they were waiting for instructions from the police. By 9 am Wednesday morning the police were knocking on the resident's door because they had found a body. So the police were out there in that area searching by early Wednesday (and possibly Tuesday) and it seems they had asked the volunteers not to go out.

I don't find it too unusual if the police asked volunteers not to search on Tuesday. Often when the police decide to bring in professional/LE searchers they don't want volunteers accidentally compromising a scene or confusing search dogs with too many scents. I can't find it now, but one of the articles linked above made it sound like police were doing a grid type search of a 1 mile radius of her house when they found the body. That is pretty much standard procedure. It's unfortunate that it took so long for them to do that kind of search, but it's probably because she is an adult and not considered endangered.

 

[thedebut]

Several of the news sources actually released that it was Denise the first time they posted - those were updated or deleted to state no ID at this time, though there are still some screenshots floating around of the first release. It could just be that the media misunderstood that the body was found during the search. However, her friends and boyfriend have gone silent on Facebook and Twitter and have stopped sharing the missing persons poster so I’m inclined to believe that there was a pretty strong indication that it may be her.

It’s a very sad situation for all and I can’t imagine the level of stress they’re all going for. Denise is obviously very loved by all those who know her.

 

[Truth Prevails]

I thought what the neighbor said was interesting. He does confirm that her friends searched the area sometime around June 20th--or that's my understanding.

I know it's not unusual for a body to be missed during an initial search, especially by "friends" new to searching.

That could have a lot to do with why there seems to be so much denial of who this could be, though.

Image from screenshot during the video at link below.

_________________________​

Snipped: Neighbor Bill Watson lives just two houses from where the body was found.

“It seemed almost like somebody was expecting something to happen. I mean it happened one day, and then it’s like the very next day there’s a mass search out there, and that was a little strange we thought,” said Watson. “All of a sudden, 10 days later there’s a body, and the whole things strange because of the timing and how it went about. If it’s a murder, that would be very disturbing, something that could happen so close to me.”
Body in Red Mill neighborhood of Virginia Beach still not identified

 

[Knox]

I'm sad to hear a body was found, I hoped this would end with Denise just getting away for a bit.

 

[Mistree]

I thought what the neighbor said was interesting. He does confirm that her friends searched the area sometime around June 20th--or that's my understanding.

I know it's not unusual for a body to be missed during an initial search, especially by "friends" new to searching.

That could have a lot to do with why there seems to be so much denial of who this could be, though.

Image from screenshot during the video at link below.

_________________________​

Snipped: Neighbor Bill Watson lives just two houses from where the body was found.

“It seemed almost like somebody was expecting something to happen. I mean it happened one day, and then it’s like the very next day there’s a mass search out there, and that was a little strange we thought,” said Watson. “All of a sudden, 10 days later there’s a body, and the whole things strange because of the timing and how it went about. If it’s a murder, that would be very disturbing, something that could happen so close to me.”
Body in Red Mill neighborhood of Virginia Beach still not identified

If this picture is a true indication of where the body was found, in my opinion it appears to be less likely a suicide.
This seems like a quick disposal site to attempt to indicate foul play on the homeowners close to it.
I’m not liking the Juvenile vibe I’m getting.......
JMO

 

[carbuff]

I wonder if she was trying to get back home and either ran into an accident or foul play.

 

[2Hope4]

The waiting must be agony for her family and friends! Surely LE has some indication of whether it could be her or not!

 

[whitelilac]

I think LE already knows....from clothing. By all indications and lack of updates from friends on SM, I don't get a sense of urgency, nor that searches are still taking place.