Mother of woman found dead on Sanibel Causeway wants more patrols in area

Reporter: Anika Henanger Writer: Melissa Montoya
Published: Updated:
Brianna Geerlof, 27, died of an overdose, and was found on the Sanibel Causeway. (CREDIT: Courtesy)

A Southwest Florida mother is pushing for more patrols at the Sanibel Causeway.

That’s where her daughter Brianna Geerlof, 27, and her boyfriend were found in a truck decomposing after being reported missing for days.

Even though there is a “no parking after dusk” ordinance, the two went unnoticed. Brianna’s mother Angelika Geerlof wants the county to increase patrols to keep tragedy from striking again.

A Lee County spokesperson said the ordinance can be enforced by sheriff’s deputies, Sanibel police officers and Lee County Parks and Recreation Rangers.

Meanwhile, the sheriff’s office said they sent deputies to the causeway 299 times in 2020, mostly for proactive area checks.

In the four days that Brianna was missing, no one noticed her in the car at the causeway.

But her mother Geerlof knew something was amiss on Jan. 30 when she failed to receive her daily morning text.

“We were pretty much inseparable,” Geerlof said.

Four days later, on Feb. 3, the search ended on the Causeway Islands.

“It was extremely difficult when the sheriffs told me that my daughter had passed away,” Geerlof said. “She had been there for days.”

Brianna died of an overdose.

“It’s a terrible image to have, especially of your daughter,” Geerlof said. “It’s a terrible image I have of anyone, but your child, your flesh and blood, it’s unthinkable.”

With families, swimmers and fishermen all around, Geerlof wonders how no one, not even law enforcement, noticed the two decaying bodies in the pickup, especially when there’s no overnight parking.

“It’s upsetting to know that your child is no longer recognizable, it was extremely difficult to not be able to say goodbye to her,” Geerlof said.

Rick Lee, of Sanibel, said he thinks the causeway should be patrolled so something like this doesn’t happen again. 

Deb Dwyer, who also lives on Sanibel, said there were many people around having picnics. 

“Every time I go over the causeway now, I think I hope they look after dusk and make sure people are OK,” Geerlof said. “That would mean the world to me.”

 

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