Body found in submerged car ID'd as missing Ormond Beach woman

Rose Bruce vanished after shift at Volusia County Walmart

ORMOND BEACH, Fla. – Volusia County deputies have identified the body found in a car submerged in an Ormond Beach pond as the missing 79-year-old woman on Friday.

Rose Bruce, 79, of Ormond Beach was last seen leaving Walmart where she worked around 10:15 p.m. Monday. She was supposed to return an hour later to pick up her daughter-in-law, but never showed up.

Bruce's car was found submerged in an Ormond Beach pond at the corner of Williamson Boulevard and Hand Avenue. The pond is adjacent to a parking lot across the street from Bruce's San Marco apartment complex.

Florida Highway Patrol investigators said for an unknown reason, Bruce's car was heading down an access road in the parking lot. The driver apparently swerved to avoid a parked trailer and drove into the pond.

The medical examiner has determined Bruce's cause of death was accidental drowning.