The body of a teenager who vanished in late August was found this past weekend, as confirmed by reports and heartfelt online tributes from family and friends. Jakarah Lopez-Moore, a 16-year-old from Rochester, New York, was reported missing on August 29, two days after she was last seen. Nearly two months later, her remains were discovered in a wooded area in Rochester, with investigators estimating that her body had been decomposing for over a month.
Rochester Police Department’s Capt. Frank Umbrino revealed that officers were alerted to a location behind a local recycling facility on Saturday. The call came from witnesses who were fishing in the area and stumbled upon the body. The Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Office later identified the remains as those of Lopez-Moore. Her death has been ruled a homicide, although the specific cause of death has not been disclosed.
Capt. Umbrino shared that Lopez-Moore had voluntarily left her home in the early hours of August 27. However, her sudden silence on social media, where she was usually active, quickly raised alarm bells. Umbrino pointed out that while Jakarah was grappling with typical teenage issues, it was out of character for her to be out of touch with her family for two days or to be absent from social media for such a duration.
According to one of her Facebook accounts, Lopez-Moore’s social media activity stopped a day before she was last seen. On Tuesday, her mother posted a poignant tribute to her daughter on social media. She expressed her profound grief and yearning for more time with her daughter, vowing to never let her go when they reunite.
The investigation into Lopez-Moore’s death is still underway. As the community mourns the loss of a young life, the authorities are working tirelessly to bring justice to Jakarah and her family. The tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of maintaining open lines of communication with teenagers and being aware of their online activities.