Body of woman found in Lake Underhill ID'd, police say

Victim identified as Olivia Diggs as homicide investigation continues

ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando police identified on Friday the body found in Lake Underhill in an Orlando lake.

The victim was identified as Olivia Renee Diggs, 32, of Orlando.

Workers with Florida Fish and Wildlife reported the discovery of her body around 11 a.m. Monday at Lake Underhill and Palmer Street.

Police said after the discovery of a human body part, more dismembered body parts were recovered from a long the shoreline of the lake.

Police said they believe she was placed in the water sometime between Sunday evening and Monday morning.

"It's awful. It's horrific. How could someone do that to a person?" Susan Friel asked.

Friel said she once lived on the streets with Diggs, and she said she and Diggs got back on their feet.

She said Diggs had a place to live and she even regained custody of her children. She said things were going well for her.

Friel said she spoke to Diggs on Sunday, one day before her body was found in Lake Underhill.

"She was happy. We were going to meet up for lunch. We were praying together on the phone and she was trying to help me with some problems I was having," she said. "Everything was OK."

"She was doing fine. She was getting herself together. She was going good," Sumaiyya Clement said.

Clement said she and Diggs became friends while living at a woman's shelter in Orlando.

News 6 asked her if she had a message for the person who killed Diggs.

"He's a coward and they need to turn themselves in," she said.

Anyone who was in the Lake Underhill area and may have seen anything Sunday or Monday can call Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS.


About the Author:

Erik Sandoval joined the News 6 team as a reporter in May 2013 and became an Investigator in 2020. During his time at News 6, Erik has covered several major stories, including the 2016 Presidential campaign. He was also one of the first reporters live on the air at the Pulse Nightclub shooting.