Found Deceased FL - Tracey Lynn Rieker, 44, Venice, 30 Sept 2020

[PayrollNerd]

Uh oh.

Venice Police Department

At approximately 11:45 a.m. today, Saturday, Oct. 10, divers with the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office and North Port PD, assisted by the FWC, Venice PD and Sarasota K9 Search and Rescue, located a green Nissan Xterra in a large pond in the Toscana Isles subdivision in Venice, close to Knights Trail. Inside the vehicle was a deceased female, believed to be that of Tracey Lynn Rieker, 44, missing from her Venice home since Sept. 30. Authorities are in the process of recovering the vehicle at this time. The case is being treated as a traffic homicide. An investigation continues to determine Rieker’s cause of death. As more information becomes available it will be released by VPD. There will be no press conference at this time.

 

[10ofRods]

A traffic homicide?

As in, someone ran her off the road?

 

[Nancy19XX]

I am so relieved they found her! Now for some answers and possibly justice from the sounds of it. MOO

 

[oviedo]

A traffic homicide?

As in, someone ran her off the road?

I’ve never heard that term - so yes that’s what I’m thinking

 

[YaYa_521]

A traffic homicide?

As in, someone ran her off the road?

A road rage shooting/car-jacking attempt gone really really bad? Either way, I hate this update. I was hoping she'd just taken some time away with her car locked up in a friend's garage. This isn't the outcome anyone would want. My thoughts to her loved ones.

 

[zinnia2020]

A traffic homicide?

As in, someone ran her off the road?

At 3am? Not likely. It is a dirt road and construction site.

 

[Ontario Mom]

At 3am? Not likely. It is a dirt road and construction site.

We have no way to know yet what time or even what day, her car went into the water. Unless I've missed something?

 

[Gawonii]

At 11:45am Tracey Lynn Rieker was found. She is deceased. She was found in Knights Lake in the northern part of her subdivision. Police on the scene retrieving the vehicle and body. My prayers goes out to the family & friends of Mrs Rieker. The case is being treated as a homicide.
Body believed to be missing Venice mom of 4 found in vehicle in pond | WFLA

 

[Avalon85]

A road rage shooting/car-jacking attempt gone really really bad? Either way, I hate this update. I was hoping she'd just taken some time away with her car locked up in a friend's garage. This isn't the outcome anyone would want. My thoughts to her loved ones.

Her car was found in a pond very close to her house. Not even 100 yards. It’s unlikely there was any traffic at 3am.

 

[Avalon85]

We have no way to know yet what time or even what day, her car went into the water. Unless I've missed something?

There was a lot of stuff removed but it explained she was last seen at 3 am
By her husband.
Police find body believed to be missing Venice mom Tracey Rieker inside submerged car

 

[TheLoadedGoat]

Why a homicide and not suicide? There must be something about her body or the car that tells LE she didn't willingly drive into the pond.

 

[turanna25]

Why a homicide and not suicide? There must be something about her body or the car that tells LE she didn't willingly drive into the pond.

Exactly what I was thinking. I wonder if she was found in another part of the car (not the drivers seat).

 

[FrostOwl]

Why a homicide and not suicide? There must be something about her body or the car that tells LE she didn't willingly drive into the pond.

The question is if it's something specific for this case, or if it's something done for any/every time there is an accident with a fatality. Here it says that every traffic fatality case is examined by the Traffic Homicide Unit in another Florida county, maybe it's the same here?
Traffic Homicide Unit

 

[Ontario Mom]

There was a lot of stuff removed but it explained she was last seen at 3 am
By her husband.
Police find body believed to be missing Venice mom Tracey Rieker inside submerged car

Yes, I'd read previously that she was last seen at around 3am.
I have not seen a statement from LE to indicate if they even know what time her vehicle entered the water.
Those two events could be hours apart.

 

[PayrollNerd]

Nothing new just another source.

Police: Deceased woman found inside of green Nissan Xterra in large pond in Venice

According to police, there was dead woman inside of the vehicle and they believe that this person was 44-year-old Tracey Rieker, who was reported missing last week after not being seen since September 30th.

Rieker’s family has been notified and authorities are in the process of recovering the Xterra.

Police say this cases is being treated as a traffic homicide and that this is an ongoing investigation.

 

[PayrollNerd]

The question is if it's something specific for this case, or if it's something done for any/every time there is an accident with a fatality. Here it says that every traffic fatality case is examined by the Traffic Homicide Unit in another Florida county, maybe it's the same here?
Traffic Homicide Unit

That's what I think too. Every time I've ever heard of a vehicular type death, it's been called a traffic homicide. Meaning the death occurred during a traffic event. Not necessarily intentional but accidental.

 

[oviedo]

I’m watching this to see what is released

 

[Avalon85]

I’m local to this area and I want to point out this the police here get VERY few homicides. We will go many years without a homicide. This may not be that but it’s just letting you know. Sarasota sees these kinds of cases but not Venice.

 

[Coffiecat]

Venice Police Department

Edit a few hours ago.

Neighbor was walking, saw tracks, saw submerged vehicle, called.

 

[PayrollNerd]

Family's statement below. More at link.

Police find body believed to be missing Venice mom Tracey Rieker inside submerged car

On Saturday afternoon the Rieker & Spurry families released the following statement:

"Our family is grateful for the outpouring of support and donations of both time and resources in the search for Tracey. The outcome of the investigation is shocking and devastating, and we wish this could have been investigated sooner to bring needed closure for the family. At this time, we are grieving as an extended and cohesive family unit, and request privacy while we work through this."

According to police, this case is being treated as a traffic homicide. An investigation is ongoing to determine the cause of Rieker’s death.