A young woman reported missing Sunday is now the subject of a homicide investigation after her body was recovered from a vehicle that crashed into a Dallas creek.[[332059392,R]]
Dallas police confirmed Monday afternoon the deceased young woman is 18-year-old Zoe Hastings and said her body showed signs of "obvious homicidal violence."
Investigators said there is a lot of physical evidence in the van that is yet to be processed and the investigation is ongoing.
Hastings' family said she left home at 4:45 p.m. Sunday and was headed to a class at church that started at 5 p.m. When she didn't show up as expected, the family called police and reported her missing.
The vehicle Hastings was driving, a 2007 Honda Odyssey minivan, was recovered in the creek Monday morning along the 11700 block of Dixfield Drive after someone called to report seeing the crashed vehicle.
"She's just a great young lady. Very involved in the arts, helpful in the school. Just a shame. A huge loss," said Joe Noriega.
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Noriega said he was driving his daughter to school Monday morning when a man flagged him down near the intersection of Lippett Avenue and Easton Road. Noriega said the man told him there was an injured girl in a nearby creek. Noriega said he walked into the creek, found Hastings' body and called police.
Noriega said the man who waived him down disappeared.
"My suspicion is, why did this guy waive us down, and not stay? He just seemed out of place," Noriega said.
Dallas police say they are aware of Noriega's report but have not identified any suspects.
Dallas police said the investigation into Hastings' death is ongoing and have revealed no other information. Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to call the Dallas Police Homicide Unit at 214-671-3584 or the Crime Stoppers tip line at 214-373-TIPS.
Police would specifically like to know who she was with or if she was to meet anyone before the class at her church. Anyone who may have seen her vehicle is asked to contact the police.
About four miles away, Dallas police are investigating another homicide where a jogger was attacked and killed with a machete or large knife near White Rock Creek. Police said Monday afternoon the cases are not connected and that a man has confessed to that murder.
NBC 5's Eric King contributed to this report.
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