VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office announced that a body was found inside of missing teacher Robert Heikka’s vehicle that was located in a canal on Saturday.
Deputies said the vehicle was discovered in a canal in the area of 4290 Pioneer Trail.
In a social media post, the sheriff’s office said a dive team is in the process of recovering the vehicle from the canal where the water level has recently dropped significantly.
Heikka was last seen in October 2020 at his home in Port Orange.
The car is in a canal along Pioneer Trail where the water level has recently dropped significantly. It hasn’t been determined if it’s occupied. Thanks to Sunshine State Sonar and Recon Dive Recovery for spotting the vehicle and confirming the tag pic.twitter.com/RlTSSp5SQM
— Volusia Sheriff (@VolusiaSheriff) April 8, 2023
Port Orange police said Heikka, who goes by the name Bob and has been with Volusia County Schools since 1989, has taught at Creekside Middle School in Port Orange since 2002.
In December 2020, police said Heikka was seen on surveillance video at an ATM near Canaveral Shores.
Multiple agencies including the FBI, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Brevard and Volusia county sheriff’s offices and the Port Orange Police Department have been searching for Heikka and his car, a 2012 white Chevy Impala.
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Deputies said while a positive identification has not been made yet, they have been in contact with Heikka’s family.
This is a developing story. Check back with News 6 for the latest updates.
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