25-year-old Chelsey Green’s body found in submerged car

LEE COUNTY, Fla.- What exactly happened? That’s the question the family of 25-year-old Chelsey Green wants answered.

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Green’s body was found inside her submerged car in the river by the State Road 31 bridge.

Her family says the 25-year-old was missing since early Friday morning.

LCSO tells WINK News, on Monday, July 20, a dive team observed a large mass submerged in the Caloosahatchee River while searching for Green who had been missing from the area.

Upon further investigation, a white Dodge Stratus, matching Green’s car, was pulled from the river.

Inside the vehicle, were the remains of a woman. The body was turned over to the Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy and proper identification.

Green’s friends and family spent the weekend looking for her. Her friends say she sent her brother a location text showing a spot near the water by SR 31, but he missed the message and could not reach her after that.

Friends describe Green as a very caring, and loving person who was always willing to help others. A small memorial is forming near the area where deputies found her car.

“I’d want to say how much we miss her, and wish this never happened,” her brother Josh Green tells WINK News. “Been rough on everybody, but I think they are trying to get through it together and keep their heads up.”
Chelsey Green was last seen early Friday morning, leaving a friend’s house in Fort Myers Shores.

Along with the grief, Josh Green says the family still has a list of questions, like how did his sister end up in the water in the first place? Was it foul play? Or just an accident?

He says his sister struggled with substance abuse, and July also marks 10 years since their dad died.

“She could have been depressed. We lost our father 10 years ago in the same month, month of July. Been a rough month for us. We don’t know if she was thinking about that,” said Green.

Family, friends and strangers are building a memorial at the bridge where she was found, still in disbelief.

“There were a lot of people who knew our family, and were looking out for us and we appreciate all their help and support,” said Josh Green.

He says they are keeping in touch with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, who have sent Chelsey’s body off for an autopsy.

A candlelight vigil will be held at the bridge starting at 7 p.m. Tuesday.