INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — The death of a 24-year-old missing woman whose body was found in a lake behind the Vero Beach Outlets Mall in late March, was ruled a suicide, according to an autopsy report.
Khadijah Anderson
PHOTO PROVIDED BY HIGHLANDS COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Medical examiners said Khadijah Anderson, of Avon Park, died from drowning. There was no evidence of trauma to Anderson’s body, according to the autopsy, completed June 6, 2019 by the District 19 Medical Examiner Department.
Indian River County sheriff’s spokesman Maj. Eric Flowers initially said there did not appear to be any signs of foul play in Anderson’s death.
Anderson was last seen March 25 in Avon Park, according to Highlands County Sheriff’s Office. Highland County officials issued a missing person alert in an effort to locate the woman.
A few days later, Indian River deputies located Anderson’s unoccupied car behind the mall, west of Interstate 95, Flowers said. The car doors were unlocked and the keys were still in the ignition, Flowers said.
“It appears she was the only person in the vehicle,” Flowers previously said. Flowers said security footage from Yeehaw Junction showed Anderson stopped for gas overnight before arriving at the mall.
Anderson was alone and did not appear to be in distress, Flowers said. It was still unclear why Anderson decided to drive to Indian River County.
Deputies found Anderson’s body March 30, Flowers said.
Tributes to Anderson poured in on the social media platform Facebook after authorities confirmed her death. In one Facebook post, Anderson’s sister described her as “a beautiful person” and “kind soul.”
“I love you and miss you sister,” Anderson’s sister wrote on social media in April.
No further details were available.
