Found five days after she vanished on a run, Arielle Valdes, 21-year-old from North Fort Myers, was searched countywide. Remains supposedly hers were found along the Caloosahatchee River on September 2, 2024. In the hunt the Lee County Sheriff’s Office used K9 teams, drones, and marine vessels among other resources. The Major Crimes Unit said despite great attempts that there is no indication of foul play.
Valdes left her house on August 28, 2024, about 6:30 p.m., for a run but never came back. DOT video showed her headed southbound on US 41 close to her house just before vanishing. Writing, “Ari you were too good for this world,” her sister Isabella Hergert thanked the society. I love you; every life cycle I will see you once again. Hergert opened a GoFundMe campaign to collect money initially meant as a reward for discovering Valdes. The family is thinking about honoring her memory with the contributions today.
