Vilma Gil, a 51-year-old Cuban mother who went missing on June 1st in Miami, has been found dead, authorities reported this Monday. The Cuban mother, who has a five-year-old daughter, was last seen at noon that day when she left her home in Hialeah to go to a nail salon to prepare for her daughter's end-of-school-year party the next day. That evening, her husband, Alexei Licea, reported her disappearance to the authorities.
A report by Univision 23 showed the moment when Gil's relatives emerged from the Miami-Dade Police Department on June 17, “devastated” after being notified that her body had been found. The family told the TV channel that they were not informed of the cause of Gil's death, the condition of her body, or when they could retrieve it.
However, it was revealed that the case is currently being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and not by the police, but the reason for this change is unknown, according to Univision 23, which requested information from the agency.
Gil's family had asked for help to find her after losing all contact with her on June 1st. The Cuban woman's trail was lost at a gas station on 157th Avenue and Kendall Drive. She never arrived at the nail salon.
On June 2nd, police officers found her car abandoned at mile 32 on 8th Street in the Everglades, in a desolate area near a lake. Inside the vehicle were her belongings, except for her cell phone and a credit card.
In statements to Univision 23, Gil's husband revealed that he had spoken to her around 4 PM on the day she disappeared. “I didn't notice anything unusual. She seemed in good spirits; I would never have imagined that this would be the last time I would talk to her for a long time,” he said.
Licea assured that he subsequently tried to communicate with his wife several times but was unsuccessful and thought that her phone battery had died. That night, he reported her disappearance to the police.
Meanwhile, desperate over the woman's disappearance, her sister Digna Gil asked the community for any information that could help them find her. The Miami-Dade County Police Department, then in charge of the investigation, also called on anyone with relevant information about the case to contact the institution.
Details Surrounding the Investigation of Vilma Gil's Death
In light of the tragic discovery of Vilma Gil's body, many questions remain unanswered. Here are some frequently asked questions about the ongoing investigation.
What is the current status of the investigation into Vilma Gil's death?
The investigation is currently being handled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The reasons for this change from the local police to the FBI have not been disclosed.
Where was Vilma Gil's car found?
Her car was found abandoned at mile 32 on 8th Street in the Everglades, in a desolate area near a lake. Her belongings were inside the vehicle, except for her cell phone and a credit card.
When did Vilma Gil's family last have contact with her?
Her husband, Alexei Licea, last spoke to her around 4 PM on June 1st, the day she disappeared. He did not notice anything unusual during their conversation.