In a tragic turn of events, the body of Sandra Lemire, a Florida mom who vanished over a decade ago, has been discovered in a pond near Disney World. The news was confirmed by her family and a volunteer search team, Sunshine State Sonar, on New Year's Eve. Lemire's remains were found submerged in a pond on Interstate 4 near the Disney World exit in Kissimmee. Along with the announcement, Sunshine State Sonar shared a photo of the vehicle she was driving at the time of her disappearance, which was also recovered.

For Lemire's grieving son, Timothy Lemire, who resides in Michigan, the discovery of his mother's van brought a sense of closure after years of uncertainty. He expressed his gratitude to the volunteer search team, stating, "These guys brought this long mysterious case to an end." However, despite the relief, Timothy still grapples with unanswered questions and the pain of not knowing if his mother suffered in her final moments. He wrote, "It kills me to even think that she knew she was gonna pass. I just don't know how to take it...I just wish I could [have] had the chance to say goodbye to her."

Orlando Police provided a statement to The Post, confirming that a volunteer civilian dive group had reported a submerged vehicle in a body of water on World Drive. However, authorities did not officially confirm that the body found was that of Sandra Lemire, referring to the remains as "unidentified." The Florida Highway Patrol is currently handling the traffic crash investigation.

The circumstances surrounding Lemire's disappearance date back to May 8, 2012, when she left her grandmother's Orlando home in her grandmother's 2004 Ford Freestar minivan. She was heading to Kissimmee to meet a man she had been communicating with through an online dating service. Lemire called her grandmother upon arrival in Kissimmee, assuring her that she would call again before starting her journey back home. Unfortunately, that call never came, and no one heard from her again. The last sighting of Lemire was at a Denny's restaurant in Kissimmee, where she was seen driving the minivan.

During the investigation, police determined that the man Lemire had met was not involved in her disappearance. He claimed that they met up at the McDonald's where he worked and then went their separate ways. Authorities believed his account, and the focus shifted to finding Lemire. Her grandmother, Pauline Varner, expressed concern at the time, particularly due to Lemire's diabetes and the fact that she did not have insulin with her. Varner shared her worry, saying, "It's just not like her because if she goes to the store, she says I'll be back in an hour, and she's back in an hour."

The discovery of Lemire's van in the pond near Disney World has raised hopes and fears simultaneously. While it provides some closure, it also raises questions about what exactly happened to her. Authorities have not released any additional information regarding the circumstances leading to the van's submersion or the condition of the remains found inside. The medical examiner's office will be working to positively identify the deceased.

As the investigation continues, Lemire's family and friends must grapple with the loss and the unanswered questions that linger. The discovery of her remains brings both a sense of closure and the pain of knowing that they will never have the chance to say a proper goodbye.