Police: Woman found dead in Henrico cornfield was missing person from Richmond
By NBC12 Newsroom, Brent Solomon, and Karina Bolster | July 7, 2020 at 5:10 PM EDT - Updated July 8 at 11:02 PM
HENRICO, Va. (WWBT) - Henrico Police have identified the body of a woman found in a cornfield Tuesday as a missing person out of Richmond.
Officers responded around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday to an area on New Market Road near Rockingham Street for a suspicious situation involving a vehicle in a cornfield.
“This citizen observed a plowed path through a cornfield which drew his attention,” said Henrico Police Lt. Matt Pecka. “He and another gentleman stopped and walked that path and found a vehicle.”
Upon arrival, police sources tell NBC12 they found a woman’s body not far from a vehicle partially hidden by the tall stalks of corn.
On Wednesday Henrico police identified the woman as Hope Ann Aheimer, 26, of Henrico.
Aheimer was last seen Saturday, July 4 around 11 p.m. leaving a business where she was employed in the 1700 block of Dock Street in Richmond.
The owner of Bottoms Up, a pizza restaurant in Shockoe Bottom, said Aheimer worked there for nearly a year and was always a friendly face to see when walking into the restaurant.
“She had always been unique and creative,” said an acquaintance. “I can’t remember a time she was mean to me or to anyone around me. She always did her best and always had fun with the things she loved. It hurts me and everyone who knew her that this is how her life ended. It’s so shocking.”
On Sunday around 5:30 p.m. a missing persons report was filed by family with Richmond Police after Aheimer wasn’t seen or heard from since she left work.
“Friends and family assisted by posting to social media to alert our community of the disappearance,” Pecka said. “I do commend the family and friends for really taking to social media to get that information out. I can say our peers in the City of Richmond were working diligently on this release and this case.”
On Wednesday, a spokesperson for Richmond Police said all protocols were followed in this case.
“Officers did the initial investigation Sunday evening - conducting interviews - collecting information,” a statement reads. “Detectives took over after that. An internal missing person notice was issued throughout the Department. It was decided a public appeal should be made but before it was released, she was found.”
In a statement from Aheimer’s family on Wednesday, a relative said an attentive utility worker in the area noticed the vehicle and reached out to police.
The rest of the statement reads:
"At this time, the family of Hope Ann Aheimer would like to express their appreciation for the immediate outpouring of support from the community following Hope Ann’s mother’s posting on social media requesting information on Hope Ann’s or her car’s whereabouts. Within only a few minutes of Hope Ann’s mother’s posting, there were over 3000 shares of her original posting about Hope Ann. As of today, there were over 6,900 shares.
“The family is very appreciative of the attentive utility worker who saw the car in the cornfield when working on the power lines and promptly called the police to investigate. The family understands that the investigation is still ongoing and would appreciate if anyone with information on Hope Ann’s case please contact the Henrico County Police Department directly to provide that information. The family requests that the public refrain from sharing information about the case on social media.
“The family would like to thank extended family members, friends and the public for the postings of prayers and condolences. At this time, please respect the immediate family’s privacy. Finally, the family expresses sincere thanks to the Richmond and Henrico County Police Officers and Detectives who have been working diligently on Hope Ann’s case and continue to work on her case.”
At this time Henrico police have classified this as a death investigation. Aheimer’s cause and manner of death will be determined by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Her body was scheduled for an autopsy Wednesday afternoon.
“While details were limited yesterday, Henrico police detectives must work closely with the Richmond Police Department to verify any victim’s identity,” Henrico police said. “In this incident, Ms. Aheimer was reported missing in Richmond and located in Henrico County. Communication among agencies, as well as the family of any victim, is essential in any investigation.”
Anyone with information regarding this case is urged to call Henrico Police, specifically Detective Ensor, at (804) 501-5000 or Crime Stoppers at (804) 780-1000.
Community reacts to the discovery of a body in a cornfield
“Strange; it’s kind of unusual out here in the country,” said Bruce Pegram. “Not much happens out here.”
Pegram lives near New Market Road and stumbled upon the death investigation.
“I was like ‘aww man, what is going on?’” he said.
Police found a woman’s body along with a car around 2:30 Tuesday afternoon. Only NBC12 was there when a wrecker arrived to haul away the blue-green Mitsubishi. Pegram wonders how the car got through the tall, strong corn husks.
“It’s hard to walk in it. Usually, they’re planted like 6 inches apart…You’re not going to get a car through there, not unless you’re going a bit of speed maybe,” he speculated.
Police have not yet revealed how they believe it happened but they call the whole situation suspicious.
“The corn was knocked over so there is a pathway there that detectives are consistently using to be able to access in and out to the roadways,” said Lt. Matt Pecka.
Although this happened in Henrico, a Richmond police detective showed up, likely due to a missing person’s case out of the city.
“We have partnered with our neighboring agency, Richmond, who has had a representative on scene, but we’re still trying to piece everything together to determine exactly what occurred,” Pecka added.
As they work the case, neighbors are left stunned by a tragedy unfolding so close to home.
“Terrible, that’s terrible,” Pegram said.
Police: Woman found dead in Henrico cornfield was missing person from Richmond
By NBC12 Newsroom, Brent Solomon, and Karina Bolster | July 7, 2020 at 5:10 PM EDT - Updated July 8 at 11:02 PM
HENRICO, Va. (WWBT) - Henrico Police have identified the body of a woman found in a cornfield Tuesday as a missing person out of Richmond.
Officers responded around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday to an area on New Market Road near Rockingham Street for a suspicious situation involving a vehicle in a cornfield.
“This citizen observed a plowed path through a cornfield which drew his attention,” said Henrico Police Lt. Matt Pecka. “He and another gentleman stopped and walked that path and found a vehicle.”
Upon arrival, police sources tell NBC12 they found a woman’s body not far from a vehicle partially hidden by the tall stalks of corn.
On Wednesday Henrico police identified the woman as Hope Ann Aheimer, 26, of Henrico.
Aheimer was last seen Saturday, July 4 around 11 p.m. leaving a business where she was employed in the 1700 block of Dock Street in Richmond.
The owner of Bottoms Up, a pizza restaurant in Shockoe Bottom, said Aheimer worked there for nearly a year and was always a friendly face to see when walking into the restaurant.
“She had always been unique and creative,” said an acquaintance. “I can’t remember a time she was mean to me or to anyone around me. She always did her best and always had fun with the things she loved. It hurts me and everyone who knew her that this is how her life ended. It’s so shocking.”
On Sunday around 5:30 p.m. a missing persons report was filed by family with Richmond Police after Aheimer wasn’t seen or heard from since she left work.
“Friends and family assisted by posting to social media to alert our community of the disappearance,” Pecka said. “I do commend the family and friends for really taking to social media to get that information out. I can say our peers in the City of Richmond were working diligently on this release and this case.”
On Wednesday, a spokesperson for Richmond Police said all protocols were followed in this case.
“Officers did the initial investigation Sunday evening - conducting interviews - collecting information,” a statement reads. “Detectives took over after that. An internal missing person notice was issued throughout the Department. It was decided a public appeal should be made but before it was released, she was found.”
In a statement from Aheimer’s family on Wednesday, a relative said an attentive utility worker in the area noticed the vehicle and reached out to police.
The rest of the statement reads:
"At this time, the family of Hope Ann Aheimer would like to express their appreciation for the immediate outpouring of support from the community following Hope Ann’s mother’s posting on social media requesting information on Hope Ann’s or her car’s whereabouts. Within only a few minutes of Hope Ann’s mother’s posting, there were over 3000 shares of her original posting about Hope Ann. As of today, there were over 6,900 shares.
“The family is very appreciative of the attentive utility worker who saw the car in the cornfield when working on the power lines and promptly called the police to investigate. The family understands that the investigation is still ongoing and would appreciate if anyone with information on Hope Ann’s case please contact the Henrico County Police Department directly to provide that information. The family requests that the public refrain from sharing information about the case on social media.
“The family would like to thank extended family members, friends and the public for the postings of prayers and condolences. At this time, please respect the immediate family’s privacy. Finally, the family expresses sincere thanks to the Richmond and Henrico County Police Officers and Detectives who have been working diligently on Hope Ann’s case and continue to work on her case.”
At this time Henrico police have classified this as a death investigation. Aheimer’s cause and manner of death will be determined by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Her body was scheduled for an autopsy Wednesday afternoon.
“While details were limited yesterday, Henrico police detectives must work closely with the Richmond Police Department to verify any victim’s identity,” Henrico police said. “In this incident, Ms. Aheimer was reported missing in Richmond and located in Henrico County. Communication among agencies, as well as the family of any victim, is essential in any investigation.”
Anyone with information regarding this case is urged to call Henrico Police, specifically Detective Ensor, at (804) 501-5000 or Crime Stoppers at (804) 780-1000.
Community reacts to the discovery of a body in a cornfield
“Strange; it’s kind of unusual out here in the country,” said Bruce Pegram. “Not much happens out here.”
Pegram lives near New Market Road and stumbled upon the death investigation.
“I was like ‘aww man, what is going on?’” he said.
Police found a woman’s body along with a car around 2:30 Tuesday afternoon. Only NBC12 was there when a wrecker arrived to haul away the blue-green Mitsubishi. Pegram wonders how the car got through the tall, strong corn husks.
“It’s hard to walk in it. Usually, they’re planted like 6 inches apart…You’re not going to get a car through there, not unless you’re going a bit of speed maybe,” he speculated.
Police have not yet revealed how they believe it happened but they call the whole situation suspicious.
“The corn was knocked over so there is a pathway there that detectives are consistently using to be able to access in and out to the roadways,” said Lt. Matt Pecka.
Although this happened in Henrico, a Richmond police detective showed up, likely due to a missing person’s case out of the city.
“We have partnered with our neighboring agency, Richmond, who has had a representative on scene, but we’re still trying to piece everything together to determine exactly what occurred,” Pecka added.
As they work the case, neighbors are left stunned by a tragedy unfolding so close to home.
“Terrible, that’s terrible,” Pegram said.
Police: Woman found dead in Henrico cornfield was missing person from Richmond
