Man missing in Orange found submerged in Osceola neighborhood
A man reported missing earlier this week was found dead Friday after investigators found his car submerged in a retention pond in a Buenaventura Lakes neighborhood in Osceola County.
A car belonging to José Rafael Malavé Lebrón was found by Osceola County deputy sheriffs in the pond near Waters Edge Drive and Blue Bayou Drive, with the 36-year-old still inside, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, which was handling the missing persons case. He was last seen early morning Monday in a nearby Orange County neighborhood located about three miles from where he was found.
A spokesperson for Florida Highway Patrol, which is investigating the fatal accident, said Malavé Lebrón failed to turn on a curve along Waters Edge Drive before driving into the retention pond, striking a utility box and heading into the water.
“The specific date and time of when the crash occurred also remains under investigation,” Lt. Tara Crescenzi said in a statement. “We currently only have preliminary information as our Traffic Homicide Investigators are still on-scene investigating this fatal collision.”
No other details were available.
