One of the mothers found dead in a Jeep that plummeted into a Michigan river was remembered as a “devoted” parent of two boys who was eagerly awaiting the birth of her niece before tragedy struck.

Vanessa Bautista, 24, and Alexa Navarro, 23, both of South Bend, Indiana, were discovered dead on Tuesday night after the submerged vehicle was pulled out of the St. Joseph River in Niles, Michigan.

“Vanessa’s greatest joy in life was being a mother. Her sons were her entire world, and she loved them with all her heart. She was devoted to making sure they were cared for, happy, and never went without,” an obituary for Bautista read.

Vanessa Bautista, one of the mothers found dead in a Jeep that plummeted into a Michigan river, was remembered as a “devoted” parent of two boys who was eagerly awaiting the birth of her niece.

Bautista (above) was discovered dead on Tuesday night after the submerged vehicle was pulled out of the St. Joseph River in Niles, Michigan.

“She was a loving, protective, and devoted mother who would always find a way to make things happen for her boys. The love she had for Jaire and Jessiah was unconditional, and they will forever carry the love she gave them.”

Bautista, who was known for her warmth and “beautiful soul,” was also “eagerly anticipating” the arrival of her sister’s baby.

“She would tease her sister Michelle, telling her to “hold it in” and not let the baby be born on her birthday,” the obituary read, listing her birthday as Sept. 9 — mere days before her death.

“Whether meeting someone for the first time or spending time with lifelong friends and family, Vanessa had a natural way of connecting with people,” the heartbreaking obituary continued.

Alexa Navarro (above) was also found dead alongside Bautista inside the car submerged in the Saint Joseph River in Niles, Michigan, after vanishing following a night out.

“She could fit in anywhere and had a way of making people like her, trust her, and appreciate her for exactly who she was,” it read. “Vanessa brought laughter wherever she went. Family gatherings were never complete without her jokes and playful teasing.”

The Jeep is believed to have plunged over an embankment and plummeted roughly 70 feet into the river below around 4 a.m. Sunday morning, Niles Police Chief James Millin previously told The Post.

Bautista and Navarro, who had a 3-year-old child, were reported missing that same day, sparking a desperate search for the “best friends” in the southwestern Michigan city near the Indiana border.

Car wreckage from the scene where Bautista and Navarro’s bodies were found inside.

Investigators have been probing whether the two moms were “chased” or “followed” on the night they vanished.

“There’s been statements made that possibly somebody was chasing the girl, so we’re investigating that, looking into it,” Millin said.

“You know, right now, there do not appear to have been any outside forces, you know, such as pushing the vehicle off the road or something like that – but again that is still under investigation.”

The cause of their death is not yet known, and their autopsies and toxicology tests could take weeks to complete.

Bautista leaves behind both parents, two sons, her three sisters, and two nieces.

A funeral service for Bautista will be held in South Bend on Monday, her family announced.

“We extend our deepest gratitude to the community for everything you did to help bring our beautiful Vanessa and her best friend, Alexa, home. This is not the way we ever wanted them to come home, and our hearts will forever be broken by the circumstances of their passing,” Bautista’s obituary said.

Source: https://nypost.com/2026/09/18/us-news/grieving-family-of-mom-24-whose-body-was-pulled-from-sunken-jeep-releases-heartbreaking-obituary/