Bodies of missing Stellenbosch youngsters recovered from their vehicle in a dam

South African Police Service

Bodies of missing Stellenbosch youngsters recovered from their vehicle in a dam
Bodies of missing Stellenbosch youngsters recovered from their vehicle in a dam. Photo: SAPS

This office can confirm that the bodies of a male and a female, recovered from a motor vehicle on Monday 24 October 2022, has been identified as those of Leila Lees (18) and Ethan Kirkland (19).

Reports indicated that the duo was reported missing on Saturday 22 October 2022 after they were last seen at an establishment in Stellenbosch on Friday 21 October 2022, driving a maroon Subaru Forester in Stellenbosch.

Stellenbosch police have registered a case of culpable homicide for further investigation.

The two bodies male and female were recovered from a motor vehicle on Monday 24 October 2022 which landed in a dam in Paul Kruger Street in Stellenbosch.

Earlier at around 10:10, a community member spotted an object in a dam in the city centre and alerted the authorities. The local police members responded and secured the scene, when they noticed the wheels of a motor vehicle, which was the only part of the vehicle that was visible.

The police requested the assistance of SAPS Provincial Diving unit and upon arrival at the scene, after assessing the circumstances, they retrieved the bodies of the two victims from the motor vehicle.

Both victims were declared deceased on the scene by the medical personnel. Stellenbosch police registered an inquest for further investigation.

Anyone with information is kindly requested to call Crime Stop on 08600 10111.

Read: Missing – Leila Lees (18) and Ethan Kirkland (22), Stellenbosch

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SOURCESouth African Police Service