The body of a missing woman found along a Florida highway is at the center of a complex murder case that police are trying to solve.
Amber Renee Estep, 39, was last seen alive on Jan. 16, when she got out of her husband’s truck during an argument, and three days later was called away by her mother for a suspicious no-show at work. A missing person was reported.
On January 20, a homeowner found Estep’s body lying near Pit Bull Lane on Highway 46 in Mims, Florida and called police.
Her husband, Brian Estep, was questioned by the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Wayne Ivey said that “within hours” of the investigation, his pickup truck was “completely engulfed in flames.”
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Amber Renee Estep was last seen by her husband on January 16th in Florida and reported missing by her mother on January 19th. (Brevard County Sheriff’s Office)
The incident, which is being investigated as a homicide, has been a hot topic on social media after photos and videos of Brian’s truck on fire went viral.
“As many of you have seen on social media, and some of you have shared with our agency, within hours of our agency meeting with (Brian) Estep, His pickup truck was found in Port St. John fully engulfed in flames,” Ivey said at a press conference on January 25.
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Ivey said law enforcement and the fire marshal are working together to “determine exactly what happened and the cause of the fire,” but there is no definitive update yet. .
Port St. John is about 25 miles northwest of Merritt Island, the sheriff said, and Bryan told investigators the couple got into an argument on the way home from a medical appointment.
Police say Brian Estep’s truck was “completely engulfed in flames” hours after police questioned him about his wife’s disappearance. (Brevard County Sheriff’s Office)
Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey updated the public on the death of Amel Renee Estep. (Brevard County Sheriff’s Office)
Brian told police that Amber “asked to be taken out of the car,” near the intersection of Interstate 95 and Highway 50 in Mims, Florida, about 24 miles from where her body was found. He said he dropped Amber off.
That was on January 16, and was the last time Amber was reportedly seen alive, Ivey said.
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The homeowner reported the discovery to police and a crime scene was set up.
Detectives are still investigating how Amber died, Ivey said, but no arrests have been made.
He did not name any suspects or persons of interest, but said Bryan was cooperating with the investigation.
Amber Renee Estep was last seen on Jan. 16, when her husband told investigators he had left his medical practice on Merritt Island. The man told police he let her out of his car near Interstate 95 and Highway 50 and that she was found on January 20 along Highway 46 near Pitbull Lane in Mims, Florida. . (Google Maps)
This is where Amber Renee Estep’s body was found, according to police. (Brevard County Sheriff’s Office)
A GoFundMe set up in Amber’s honor said she was “a kind and loving young woman who left this world before she was born.”
“No one deserves to go through something like this,” organizer Sean Leet wrote. “The family is devastated by this terrible tragedy. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you and God bless you.”
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The sheriff asked anyone with information or who may have last seen her to call homicide detectives at 321-633-8413.
