A body was found Friday in Osceola County near the search area for missing 16-year-old Alexandria Chery, who hasn't been seen since Monday.
The body of a female, which was not immediately identified, was found about 9:30 a.m. near the entrance to the Reunion community along Osceola-Polk Line Road, east of I-4 near ChampionsGate. The body was taken away by the medical examiner, who will use dental records to positively identify it.
The site where the body was found is less than 2 miles northwest of the area where investigators began searching for Chery on Thursday off Lake Wilson Road. Deputies said pings from Chery's cell phone led them to search the area near the Osceola-Polk County line.
A landscaper discovered the decomposing body about 7 feet into a wooded area along a sidewalk in front of the entrance to Reunion, according to Capt. Angelo Nieves, with the Orange County Sheriff's Office.
Alexandria Chery was last seen Monday morning at her Orlando home in the Hawthorne Grove Apartments, off Good Homes Road near Old Winter Garden Road.
Orange County deputies say the prime suspect in Chery's disappearance is her mother's boyfriend, Sanel Saint Simon. He was arrested Wednesday on charges of providing false information to law enforcement and attempting to destroy evidence related to the case.
They said Saint Simon is not cooperating with the investigation.
Investigators said Chery's bedding and most of her belongings were taken from the teen's room. They also found blood splatter in the room that appeared to be covered up by bleach.
Chery's mother also found a pair of men's underwear under her daughter's bed, and she told deputies Saint Simon tried to take the garment from the teen's room.
Saint Simon, 43, remains locked up in the Orange County Jail on a bond totaling $7,650. Jail records list three holds for Saint Simon: Immigration, bond and court-ordered pretrial release. Under the immigration hold, jail authorities would have to transfer Saint Simon to federal custody at the end of his jail term.
Also of interest: Saint Simon's black 2008 Pontiac Grand Am. Deputies said the car is linked to Chery's disappearance, and they are looking for people who saw the car in the search area on Monday.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS (8477).
Family, friends pray for Alexandria Chery at vigil
It’s been nearly a week since she was last seen but 16-year-old Alexandria Chery’s family still has hope.
“We have high hope that Alex will return home safe. Like I said before, no matter what happens we hoping to find Alex dead or alive,” shared Chery’s Uncle Ray Joseph.
Hundreds of people attended the prayer vigil, which was held outside of Grace Beauty Salon on Silver Star Road in Pine Hills Friday night.
“This is one of the cases that bring people together. You don’t have to be family because there’s a lot of people here that don’t know me," Joseph said. "There’s a lot of people that don’t know Alex. They don’t know her mom but because of what’s going on, they united to come here and pray and hope that we can bring Alex home safe.”
“We know God is ultimately in control. Can I get an amen in the church? Amen,” preached Pastor David Jacques from The Kingdom Church, who told friends, family and strangers that they need to come together and pray that God’s will be done.
However, during the prayer vigil, the thought of the unknown became too much to bear for some of the missing teen’s loved ones.
“I’m just being strong for my sister and my niece right now and my family, no matter how painful this is, I’m staying strong,”Joseph said, after letting out a big sigh.
Joseph told News 13 that the next prayer vigil for his niece Alexandria Chery will be held Monday night at 7 p.m. at The Kingdom Church located at 5225 Alhambra Drive in Orlando.