Jefferson County Sheriff Jeff Bullard says the body of a 25-year-old Woodlawn woman has been recovered from her car that was washed off a flooded road near her home early Saturday morning.
The Jefferson County Coroner pronounced Shelby Mitchell dead after her body was removed from her car and brought out of the water on Sunday.
Bullard says Mitchell was able to call family that her vehicle had washed off Panzier Lane into Rayse Creek south of Woodlawn starting the lengthy effort to find her and her vehicle.
Initially, both Woodlawn and Waltonville Firemen were called out to work both sides of the creek since the water was too high to cross as a result of excessive rains at the end of last week.
Bullard says the car had sunk in what was believed to be 13 to 19 feet of water about 100 yards off the road. While a SONAR team was able to mark the area where they believed the car had been washed, the water was too murky and flowing too quickly to allow members of the Benton Dive Team to safely complete a search.
A volunteer who returned to the scene at daybreak on Sunday was able to see part of the top of the car with a drone. Divers, who were already on their way, then entered the water that had dropped considerably and was able to recover Mitchell’s body.
Bullard says an autopsy will be conducted on Monday. Its results will determine the future direction of the investigation.
A prayer vigil was held for Mitchell Sunday night at Woodlawn High School. Mitchell had been a teacher at McClelland School but was scheduled to go to work as a teacher in the Mt. Vernon City Grade School District in the coming school year.
A Go Fund Me Account has been set up for Mitchell’s family. Click here.
