VENICE – The Venice Police Department is reporting they believe to have found the body of Tracey Lynn Rieker, 44, who’s been missing from her Venice home since Sept. 30.
SNN’s first reported the story on Sun. Oct 4th as her family prepared for a search rescue attempts. VPD posted the following on their Facebook page. “At approximately 11:45 a.m. today, Saturday, Oct. 10, divers with the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office and North Port PD, assisted by the FWC, Venice PD and Sarasota K9 Search and Rescue, located a green Nissan Xterra in a large pond in the Toscana Isles subdivision in Venice, close to Knights Trail. Inside the vehicle was a deceased female, believed to be that of Tracey Lynn Rieker.”
The family is asking for privacy at this time, but issued this statement to SNN.
“Our family is grateful for the outpouring of support and donations of both time and resources in the search for Tracey. The outcome of the investigation is shocking and devastating, and we wish this could have been investigated sooner to bring needed closure for the family. “
When SNN spoke to the husband, Christian Rieker las week, he said before Tracy went missing, she was having trouble sleeping and was fasting for religious reasons. And her phone and wallet were left at home.
“When both my daughter and I woke up, about 6, 6:30 she was not there so I started to freak out, she’s kind of been in a different mindset a couple days prior to that so very concerned for her,” Christian said.
VPD is continuing its investigation. SNN will keep you updated on this tragic story.