VICTORIA, Texas — Police believe a body found in a Victoria creek belongs to a young woman who went missing a week earlier.
In the days before the body was found, police say a man they tried to interview about her disappearance took his own life during a traffic stop.
On Nov. 21 at 10:30 p.m., the Victoria Police Department received a phone call from Amanda Stevenson's mother saying that she was missing. Since then, the department said they have been working to find her as they upgraded this case to critical after the additional evidence was provided.
Stevenson's cell phone was reportedly found locked without a known password and police said it was determined early on that Stevenson has a "known associate" who would drive her around the area. The "associate" was identified and found to have also worked for a ride-share service.
Authorities said detectives initially interviewed the man to try and get information on Stevenson's location. When they tried to reinterview him, they conducted a traffic stop on his vehicle and during that traffic stop, the man reportedly took his own life.
Officials and volunteers thoroughly searched areas the associate frequently visited and over 20 members of the department searched a property several times near the city of Yoakum with scent-sensitive dogs and drones.
On Nov. 28, authorities said they received reports that a body was found at the 2500 block of Fordyce Road near Patriot Park. Upon arrival, deputies located the body in a creek near a bridge.
Officials said that their investigation resulted in a preliminary identification of Stevenson.
According to authorities, an autopsy has been ordered as the body is taken to the medical examiner's office in Travis County.
An autopsy concluded that Amanda Stevenson died from blunt head trauma and possible drowning. Her death has been ruled a homicide.
This is an ongoing investigation and KENS 5 will update this story as more information becomes available.