Human remains discovered this Sunday within a vehicle submerged in a Plantation pond are believed to be connected to the disappearance of Libby Ann Dibenedetto, a mother of three who vanished in April 2000. The discovery was made by Sunshine State Sonar, a group dedicated to solving disappearances in South Florida. They located the car—a 1996 gold Toyota Camry—13 feet underwater near the intersection of West Sunrise Boulevard and North Flamingo Road.
At the time of her disappearance, Dibenedetto, 35, had been out with friends at Duke's Bar and Grill in Davie. Her last known action was a phone call to her therapist from a public phone. After that, she disappeared without a trace. Neither she nor her vehicle were seen again, according to the search team on Facebook. Libby lived in Sunrise with her mother and had recently finalized a divorce, leaving three young children without answers for over two decades.
Sunshine State Sonar initiated their search in July 2022, conducting nearly 36 operations in Broward County, examining approximately 400 bodies of water related to Libby's case and others like it. The Plantation Police Department confirmed that the found vehicle is linked to an open missing persons case. Authorities in Sunrise are awaiting official identification of the remains to confirm they belong to Dibenedetto.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with Libby's family during this difficult time," Sunshine State Sonar stated in a social media release. The organization also expressed gratitude to the Plantation and Sunrise fire and police departments, as well as other local agencies and collaborators who assisted in the search and recovery efforts.
This discovery marks a significant breakthrough in one of South Florida's oldest unsolved cases, offering long-awaited closure to the family of Libby Ann Dibenedetto after 25 years of uncertainty. In January, the same organization, Sunshine State Sonar, successfully located a 2003 Honda Odyssey in a Melbourne, Florida lake, which allowed a forensic team to identify the remains of Katia Belaya, another mother reported missing in 2014.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Discovery of Libby Ann Dibenedetto's Remains
Who was Libby Ann Dibenedetto?
Libby Ann Dibenedetto was a mother of three who disappeared in April 2000 after last being seen in Davie, Florida. She was 35 years old at the time and had recently finalized a divorce.
How was Libby's vehicle found?
Sunshine State Sonar, an organization specializing in solving disappearances, discovered Libby's vehicle submerged in a pond in Plantation, Florida, during their search efforts in Broward County.
What is the significance of the discovery?
The discovery provides a crucial breakthrough in one of South Florida's oldest unsolved cases, potentially offering closure to Libby's family after decades of uncertainty.