Five days after going missing during a run, 21-year-old Arielle Valdes of North Fort Myers was located, sparking a county-wide search. Remains thought to be hers were found along the Caloosahatchee River on September 2, 2024. During the search, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office used a variety of resources, such as K9 teams, drones, and marine vessels.
The Major Crimes Unit declared that there is no proof of foul play despite intense efforts. On August 28, 2024, at approximately 6:30 p.m., Valdes left her house for a run but never came back.
Shortly before she vanished, DOT video captured her traveling south on US 41 close to her neighborhood.
Isabella Hergert, her sister, wrote, “Ari, you were too good for this world,” in an effort to thank the community. I will see you again in my lifetime because I love you. Hergert created a GoFundMe page to raise money, which was originally meant to be a reward for locating Valdes. The family is currently deciding how to commemorate her memory with the donations.
