ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – The Orange County Sheriff's Office has said the woman reported missing in August is now presumed to be dead.
Tia Bonta's family filed a missing person report on Aug. 5 after her father, Kevin Bonta, told authorities that he had last had contact with his daughter on July 31.
"We have to assume the worst now and we are heartsick about it," Orange County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Jane Watrel said.
Kevin Bonta was physically sick after hearing the news Thursday morning.
[Read more on this story: Deputies search for person of interest in missing woman's case]
"It's just difficult to hear," Bonta said. "You had it in your mind, but to actually see it say presumed dead. Gosh. That's when it changed."
Bonta said there is a $5,000 reward for anyone with information about Tia's disappearance.
The Bonta family is working with Orange County detectives and a private detective.
"I'm going to find her," Bonta said. "I don't know how it's going to happen, but I'm no stopping."
Authorities have been searching for Bonta in several areas of east Orlando since her disappearance with no luck.
Detectives hope witnesses or people with information can come forward, Watrel told News 6.
In August, deputies identified a person of interest, James Dellafield, because Bonta was last seen with Dellafield at the Days Inn at Colonial Drive and Alafaya Trail on July 31.
Watrel said Dellafield is no longer a person of interest and he retained a lawyer so detectives are no longer able to speak with him.
Deputies say after multiple tips that they have received and searching several areas they have had no results.