Update 9 a.m. — After some earlier confusion, WPD confirmed the vehicle is the one that Stephanie Mayorga and Paige Escaler were last seen in.
WILMINGTON — According to the Wilmington Police Department, a vehicle matching the description of the car drive by missing couple Stephanie Mayorga, 27, and Paige Escalera, 25, was found on Monday. Two bodies were found inside, too badly decomposed to be immediately identified.
Related: WPD says missing Wilmington women’s car may be in Brunswick County
According to WPD, “[j]ust after 3 p.m. Monday, May 4, Wilmington Police found a grey 2013 Dodge Dart deep in the woods off the intersection of Independence Blvd. and River Road. Two bodies were found inside. Due to the effects of decomposition, police cannot positively identify the two bodies at this time.”
WPD spokespeople declined to comment on whether the vehicle belonged to Mayorga and Escalera, although it is the same make, model, and color of their vehicle. WPD released stock images of the couple’s car last week, which was at the time suspected to be in Brunswick County, in an attempt to find the women.
The two women were last seen on the night of April 15 but were not reported missing by their roommate until four days later — due to the pervasive misconception that missing person reports cannot be filed until 72 hours later.
This is a developing story and more information will be added as it becomes available.
