The body of a mother who disappeared a week ago while trying to pick up her daughter from her ex-boyfriend has been found in a shallow grave in Alabama.
Cassie Carli was reported missing by her friends and family on March 28. She was last seen for a custody exchange of her 4-year-old daughter with the child’s father Marcus Spanevelo in the parking lot of a restaurant at Navarre Beach in Florida on Sunday 27th March.
Police said this was the last time the 37-year-old was seen and officially announced her missing on Tuesday. Her vehicle was later recovered with her purse inside by detectives who confirmed the couple’s 4-year-old daughter was safe.
During a press conference on Sunday, Santa Rosa County Sheriff Bob Johnson said her body, which detectives identified based on a tattoo, was found in a barn in Alabama, as per Fox News.
Spanevelo was arrested on Saturday morning on charges of tampering with evidence, giving false information concerning a missing persons investigation, and destruction of evidence.
At this point Cassie had still not been located and friends and community members spend their sixth day searching the Navarre Beach area where Cassie was last seen.
Sheriff Johnson says more charges are pending now that Carli’s body has been found. Investigators say they were at the barn executing a search warrant related to Carli’s phone, which was also missing.
Johnson stressed Spanevelo has not been cooperating with authorities and the only thing he said to them was “lawyer.”
“He was totally uncooperative with us and that goes a long way,” said Johnson, as per Fox News.
Johnson said Carli’s family was crushed when they learned her body had been located.
“We hated that Cassie has passed away, but it’s good to get closure for the family,” Johnson said. “It’s good to keep this dirtbag in jail, where he belongs.”
My heart goes out to Cassie’s family and friends, particularly her four-year-old daughter. May she rest in peace.