PALM BAY, Fla. – A new search for any trace of a young mother missing since two days before Christmas two years ago.
In a major update last week, Palm Bay police revealed what happened in December 2023 to Marissa Garcia and made an arrest in connection to the 25-year-old’s disappearance.
Stefan Eide, 32, is facing charges like disturbing a dead body.
Two years ago, police say Eide picked up Garcia to pay her to have sex, but according to him, she overdosed.
According to an affidavit, Eide told police he tried CPR but never called 911.
[BELOW: Man accused of dumping missing Brevard County woman’s body after sex, fatal overdose in 2023]
Instead, he threw Marissa’s phone in the woods and then brought her body an hour away to Hammock Road in Mims.
“She didn’t deserve to be dumped on the side of the road,” Marissa’s mother, Michelle Garcia, told Palm Bay Community Correspondent James Sparvero. “No person, no human does.”
Because police still haven’t found Marissa’s remains, her mother joined a new search Tuesday.
“Why are we standing here and not knowing exactly where she is,” Garcia asked. “We’re on another goose chase looking for a body that’s not here.”
The mother told Sparvero her faith is giving her hope that any sign of her daughter can still be found.“It’s God that’s got me standing here today strong enough to even come here and look and wrap my brain around the fact that something like this could happen,” Garcia said.
Sparvero wanted to ask police Tuesday about the investigation, but he was told Chief Mario Augello wasn’t available.
Here’s what Garcia would like to say to Eide.
He’s out on bond now.
“Tell us exactly where she is,” the mother said. “You know where you dropped her. There’s no way you could have forgotten where you took her out of the truck and put her body, and I ask you to come forth and tell the truth.”
As the search continues, stick with News 6 and ClickOrlando.com for any new developments to this story.