FL: REMAINS OF WOMAN MISSING 12 YRS FOUND NEAR DISNEY
<p><pi><b>This package/segment contains third party material. Unless otherwise noted, this material may only be used within this package/segment.</b></pi></p>\n<p></p>\n<p><pi><b>Stations Please Note: This package is being delivered to you for use only in its entirety. This means that if you choose to run any of this package, you must run the entire package, including any standups or tags. You may not cut down, alter or pull clips from this package.</b></pi></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p><b>#NEWS: FL / Son hopeful remains found in submerged van belong to his mother who went missing almost 12 years ago</b></p>\n<p><i> </i></p>\n<p><i>From CNN’s Jamiel Lynch</i></p>\n<p>Row/Lancy</p>\n<p> </p>\n<p>The son of Sandra Lemire is hopeful that remains found in a vehicle pulled from a pond near Orlando, Florida over the weekend belong to his mother who went missing nearly twelve years ago, he tells CNN. </p>\n<p> </p>\n<p>Lemire disappeared in May of 2012 after going to meet a man she had met online, CNN affiliate WESH reported at the time.</p>\n<p> </p>\n<p>“Police said they found and interviewed her online date, who said he did meet with Lemire, but at the end of the date, they went their separate ways,”<b> </b>according to WESH.</p>\n<p> </p>\n<p>On Saturday, a volunteer civilian search organization, Sunshine State Sonar said it found Lemire’s vehicle submerged in a retention pond near the Disney World exit in Kissimmee, Florida, according to a Facebook post.</p>\n<p> </p>\n<p>The group says new information received from Orlando police prompted this weekend's search, adding, "At approximately 1:30 PM on December 30, 2023 we got a hit on sonar in a small retention pond at the Disney World exit on I4. We located what appeared to be a minivan submerged in 14 feet of water. Our team quickly suited up and dove on the vehicle to make the license plate confirmation."</p>\n<p> </p>\n<p>Sunshine State Sonar has searched a total of 63 bodies of water over the last 17 months in their search for Lemire, the group said. </p>\n<p> </p>\n<p>Sunshine State Sonar says Lemire's remains, and personal belongings were also found, but Orlando police tell CNN the remains have yet to be identified.</p>\n<p> </p>\n<p>Lemire’s son Timothy tells CNN he strongly believes the remains found inside the vehicle belong to his mother, adding it was the last cellphone ping from her phone that led the search group to the area.</p>\n<p> </p>\n<p>“Her clothes that she was wearing that day, and her cell phone and her wallet with ID were found in her purse in the van as well. She was the only one driving that vehicle that night and was the only one found in that van,” Timothy Lemire said. </p>\n<p> </p>\n<p>In a crash repor<b>t</b>issued Sunday<b>, </b>Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) said the 2004 Ford Freestar van “was traveling on the State Road 417 southbound exit ramp to World Drive. For unknown reasons, the vehicle ran off the roadway left and into a retention pond” and became “completely submerged in water.”</p>\n<p> </p>\n<p>Timothy said that brings him and his family comfort.</p>\n<p> </p>\n<p>“I have mixed emotions about all of this. I’m happy she wasn't murdered or kidnapped or even got mugged. I just never knew what happened,” he said. </p>\n<p> </p>\n<p>“My mom was an amazing person. She had a huge heart and would do anything for anyone. My mom was a person that anyone could talk to. She always smiled and always seemed happy. I miss her more and more every day. I feel better we know what happened, but it still feels like a dream state. Like I don't know how to take it,” he added. </p>\n<p> </p>\n<p>CNN has reached out to the medical examiner’s office for more information.<b> </b></p>\n<p><b> </b></p>\n<p><i>CNN’s Chenelle Woody and Cara Lynn Clarkson contributed to this report.</i></p>\n<p><b> </b></p>\n<p><b>Photos to follow in Domestic Elements.</b></p>\n<p> </p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Sent by "Lynch, Jamiel" jamiel.lynch@cnn.com on Mon, 1 Jan 2024 22:49:46 +0000.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p><b>Supers/Fonts: </b> Timothy Lemire Jr., Sandra's son / family photos / Timothy Lemire, Sandra's ex-husband / Pauline Verner, Sandra's grandmother SOT from 2012 / Mike Sullivan, Sunshine State Sonar</p>\n<p></p>\n<p><b>Story Location: </b> Orlando</p>\n<p></p>\n<p><b>State/Province: </b> Florida</p>\n<p></p>\n<p><b>Shot Date: </b> 01/01/2024</p>\n<p></p>\n<p><b>URL: </b> https://www.wesh.com/article/movie-trailers-january-2024/46193580</p>\n<p></p>\n<p><b>Notes and Restrictions: </b></p>\n<p></p>\n<p><b>Newsource Notes: </b></p>\n<p></p>\n<p><b>Story Description: </b></p>\n<p>Elements: SOTs from Timothy Lemire Jr., Sandra's son / family photos / SOT from Timothy Lemire, Sandra's ex-husband / video from May 2012 WESH report / Pauline Verner, Sandra's grandmother SOT from 2012 / SOTs from Mike Sullivan, Sunshine State Sonar / photos and video of search and minivan from Sunshine State Sonar</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Wire/StoryDescription:</p>\n<p>ORLANDO, Fla. </p>\n<p>For over a decade, Timothy Lemire Jr. has been living in limbo not knowing what happened to his mother Sandra Lemire, who suddenly disappeared in May 2012.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>He went through hell over this, said his father Timothy Lemire.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Advertisement</p>\n<p>Sandra Lemire went missing after going on a date with a man she met online. She was living at her grandmother Pauline Varners Orlando home at the time and drove her red minivan.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>I havent heard from her since and of course, that scared me, Varner told WESH 2 News in 2012.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>For the next 12 years, the case went cold. Until last month.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Of all the cases we were working, this was the case I was least optimistic about, said Mike Sullivan.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Play Video</p>\n<p>Recommended</p>\n<p>Florida family locked doors, slept in shifts before 23-year-old allegedly stabbed mother to death</p>\n<p>Sullivan and his volunteer dive group Sunshine State Sonar have been searching for Lemire for the past year and a half.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>You know what cracked it? said Sullivan. It was two weeks ago. The detectives from Orlando Police gave us some new information that we could use. And they gave us the location of her last cell phone tower.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>With that new information, Sullivans team put together a map of possible locations.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>On Saturday, they ended up at a retention pond along State Road 417 and I-4 near Disney and World Drive. That is where they spotted a red minivan.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>I was hyperventilating. I was stressed out. I put all my dive gear on, my wetsuit and I just dove in that water, Sullivan said. I had to get that confirmation for us. We had to know.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Sullivan dove straight toward the license plate for confirmation.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>When the silt cleared, I can start seeing the numbers: J. And as soon as I saw the J and the 3, I'm like: We have her, he said.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Sullivan immediately video-called Timothy Lemire Jr. and showed him their discovery.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>What he did was amazing. And without him and his team, none of this would have been possible, said Timothy Lemire Jr. They didnt ask for a dollar. That's just the kindness of their heart.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Sunshine State Sonar took on Lemires case pro bono and searched 63 bodies of water to find Lemire.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Deep in my heart. I always thought this was a foul play case. And it turned out to be just a bad, terrible car accident, Sullivan said. I'm just so proud of our team.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>On Monday, Timothy Lemire Jr. and his dad who is Sandras ex-husband said they are still processing this discovery.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>It's a lot of mixed emotions, Timothy Lemire Jr. said. I'm happy she wasn't murdered or kidnapped or anything like that because we've been thinking that for years.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>They never got to have a funeral for her. Now, they said they have closure thanks to Sullivan and his team.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>There's this one video where you can see the van on the tow truck and the truck pulling off. And he said, Timothy, we're finally bringing your mother home, Timothy Lemire Jr. said. And that destroyed me when he said that. After all these years.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>On Sunday, the Orlando Police Department, Florida Highway Patrol, Orange County Sheriffs Office and Osceola County Sheriffs Office all responded to the scene to assist in recovering the vehicle.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>FHP is handling the crash investigation. They tell WESH 2 News they are waiting on the Medical Examiners Office to identify the remains.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>WESH 2 News also checked in with Orlando Police. They said this is an active investigation and they will share more information once they have it.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Sunshine State Sonar is a nonprofit based out of St. Petersburg that launched in January 2022. Sullivan said provide their services free to law enforcement and families. Since they launched, he said they have located the remains of seven missing people.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Station Notes/Scripts:</p>\n<p>(2 FAMILY PHOTOS I EMAILED OVER)</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>FOR OVER A DECADE</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TIMOTHY LEMIRE ("luh-meer") JR. HAS BEEN LIVING IN LIMBO</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>NOT KNOWING WHAT HAPPENED TO HIS MOTHER SANDRA</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>WHO SUDDENLY DISAPPEARED IN 2012.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>SOT, TIMOTHY LEMIRE, SANDRA'S EX-HUSBAND, ZOOM</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>(11:03) He went through hell all over this.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>SANDRA WENT MISSING</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>AFTER GOING ON A DATE WITH A MAN SHE MET ONLINE.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>SHE WAS LIVING WITH HER GRANDMOTHER AT THE TIME.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>[Notes:DATESTAMP: 2012]</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>(2012 PKG: MICHELLE MEREDITH)</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>SOT, PAULINE VARNER, SANDRA'S GRANDMOTHER</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>(0:34) I haven't heard from her since and of course that scared me.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>FOR THE NEXT 12 YEARS,</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>THE CASE WENT COLD.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>UNTIL LAST MONTH.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>SOT, MIKE SULLIVAN, SUNSHINE STATE SONAR, ZOOM</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>(3:28) Of all the cases we were working, this was the case I was least optimistic about.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>I SPOKE WITH MIKE SULLIVAN.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>HE AND HIS VOLUNTEER DIVE GROUP 'SUNSHINE STATE SONAR'</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>HAVE BEEN SEARCHING FOR SANDRA FOR THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>SOT, MIKE SULLIVAN, SUNSHINE STATE SONAR, ZOOM</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>(4:19) You know what cracked it? It was two weeks ago, the detectives from Orlando police gave us some new information that we could use, and they gave us the location of her last cell phone tower.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>WITH THAT NEW INFORMATION,</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>MIKE'S TEAM PUT TOGETHER A MAP</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>AND THEY ENDED UP HERE:</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>AT A RETENTION POND ALONG I4 AND 417 NEAR DISNEY</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>*THAT'S WHERE THEY SPOTTED A RED MINIVAN.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>SOT, MIKE SULLIVAN, SUNSHINE STATE SONAR, ZOOM</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>(5:58) I couldn't get to the shore any quicker. I told my brother, get me to the shore, I'm suiting up and I'm diving right now. We need to find out if this is her.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>MIKE DOVE STRAIGHT TOWARD THE LICENSE PLATE FOR CONFIRMATION.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>SOT, MIKE SULLIVAN, SUNSHINE STATE SONAR, ZOOM</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>(6:39) I gave it one good swipe. And I remember the big puff, and I'm sitting there with my flashlight just waiting for the silt to clear. And when the silt cleared, I can start seeing the numbers: "J." And as soon as I saw the "J" and the "3," I'm like: We have her.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>Nat (Fb video, 0:11) Confirmation. We have just found Sandra Lemire. Oh my gosh. We got her. Dude! We got her.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>SOT, TIMOTHY LEMIRE JR., SANDRA'S SON, ZOOM</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>(11:30) What he did was amazing. And without him and his team, none of this would have been possible.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>(COVER WITH THE VIDEO HE'S TALKING ABOUT. STARTS AT 1:55 ON FB VIDEO)</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>(10:30) And there's this one video where you can see the van on the tow truck and the truck pulling off. And he said, 'Timothy, we're finally bringing your mother home.'</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>(SHOW TIMOTHY ON CAM HERE)</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>And that destroyed me when he said that. I mean, you know, after all these years.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>'SUNSHINE STATE SONAR' SEARCHED OVER 60 BODIES OF WATER TO FIND SANDRA.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>SOT, MIKE SULLIVAN, SUNSHINE STATE SONAR, ZOOM</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>(9:11) She was actually in the 63rd body of water that we searched. 63rd.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>//CUT TO//</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>(8:52) Deep in my heart. I always thought this was a foul play case. And it turned out to be just a bad, terrible car accident.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>//CUT TO//</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>(4:05) I'm just I'm so proud of our team. We've got a big team behind us. And these people work so hard.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>TIMOTHY AND HIS DAD, SANDRA'S EX-HUSBAND, ARE STILL PROCESSING THIS DISCOVERY</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>SOT, TIMOTHY LEMIRE JR., SANDRA'S SON, ZOOM</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>(1:15) It's a lot of mixed emotions</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p> THEY NEVER GOT TO HAVE A FUNERAL FOR HER.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>NOW THEY SAY THEY HAVE CLOSURE</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>THANKS TO MIKE AND HIS TEAM.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>SOT, TIMOTHY LEMIRE JR., SANDRA'S SON, ZOOM</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>(11:09) Looking 63 lakes. God love them. Not for $1. They didn't ask for a dollar. That's just the kindness of their heart.</p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p></p>\n<p>IN ORLANDO</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>MARLEI MARTINEZ</p>\n<p></p>\n<p>WESH 2 NEWS</p>\n<p></p>\n<p><b>--SUPERS</b>--</p>\n<p></p>\n<p><b>--VIDEO SHOWS</b>--</p>\n<p></p>\n<p><b>--VO SCRIPT</b>--</p>\n<p></p>\n<p><b>--LEAD IN</b>--</p>\n<p></p>\n<p><b>--SOT</b>--</p>\n<p></p>\n<p><b>--TAG</b>--</p>\n<p></p>\n<p><b>--REPORTER PKG-AS FOLLOWS</b>--</p>\n<p></p>\n<p><b>-----END-----CNN.SCRIPT-----</b></p>\n<p></p>\n<p><b>--KEYWORD TAGS--</b></p>\n<p></p>