Body found in submerged car of ‘beloved’ teacher who vanished in 2020, Florida cops say
A “beloved” teacher went missing in 2020, and now a body has been discovered in his submerged car, Florida officials said.
Robert Heikka was 70 years old when he was last seen at his home in Port Orange, near Daytona Beach. The “dedicated” Creekside Middle School teacher didn’t show up to work on Oct. 26, 2020, leading his colleagues to look for him, according to the Sunshine State Sonar Search Team.
“He was a pillar of the Port Orange community, serving generations of families as a dedicated teacher, counselor, & mentor,” the organization Recon Dive Recovery wrote in a Facebook post. “After retirement, he returned for an extra year of service as his swan song, just to be near the children he loved.”
Now, more than two years after Heikka’s disappearance, dropping water levels led officials to discover his car in a canal. Photos that the Volusia Sheriff’s Office shared online April 8 showed the vehicle surrounded by murky water.
The sheriff’s office in a Facebook post said it worked with Recon Dive Recovery and the Sunshine State Sonar Search Team to confirm that the car belonged to Heikka. Crews also found a person dead inside.
Though the deceased person’s identity officially hadn’t been confirmed as of April 10, deputies said the Port Orange Police Department have been in touch with Heikka’s family.
“Through hard work and dedication by the many involved, his vehicle was located,” police wrote April 8 on Facebook. “Volusia Sheriff’s Office responded with resources and assisted greatly in the recovery after the vehicle was discovered. We thank all involved for bringing some much needed closure to Mr. Heikka’s family.”
Heikka’s car was found in the water off Pioneer Trail, near state Route 44. The person behind the wheel of the car likely lost control and went through thick brush before landing in the canal, according to dive teams.
“Please keep Mr. Heikka’s family, friends, and our school family in your thoughts and prayers,” Creekside Middle School wrote in a Facebook post after the teacher’s car was discovered.
At the time of his disappearance, Heikka was described as a 6-foot-2-inch man with “gray hair, blue eyes, and prescription glasses.”
This story was originally published April 10, 2023 at 6:55 AM with the headline "Body found in submerged car of ‘beloved’ teacher who vanished in 2020, Florida cops say."
