Few days to her expected date of delivery, the lifeless body of a pregnant African-American woman has been found off a major highway in Mississippi.
Makayla Winston, 21, went missing less than a week ago and authorities had made a passionate public appeal for information that could lead to her whereabouts.
Winston, who was expected to put to birth on July 4, is reported to have last been seen on Thursday when she was leaving her home in Goodman, north of Jackson, the Holmes County Sheriff Willie March said.
She was on her way to show her baby’s father a sonogram when she reportedly went missing, reports added.
Holmes County investigators told the CNN that they found Winston’s body off the Franklin Road, near Highway 17, which is located south of Lexington. The County is already suspecting foul play considering the circumstances surrounding her disappearance and death.
Last Thursday, Holmes County officials made a public appeal to persons who had information that could lead to finding the 21-year-old whose car was found deserted with the keys still in the ignition.
Her mother, Yvetty Brown, pleaded with the public and asked for the safe return of her daughter, saying “I just want my baby home.”
Winston’s body will be taken to the state crime lab in Jackson to determine the cause of death, according to Sherriff March.
“We understood that there was a white vehicle parked behind her, kind of like an SUV. But no one knows who was driving the SUV,” said March.
“The cell phone was cleaned up so we’re also doing an investigation on the cellular phone, trying to find out what was erased,” said March.
So far, the Sheriff says the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation has interviewed several suspects in her death.
