On Saturday, October 14, 2023, the body of a teenager who went missing in August was found in a wooded area of Rochester, New York. This finding has propelled the initiation of a homicide probe.

Jakarah Lopez-Moore, who was 16, vanished after being last spotted on August 27. She was declared missing two days subsequent to her disappearance. Her remains were later discovered, almost two months from her disappearance, behind a recycling center in Rochester. This discovery was made by individuals engaged in fishing nearby.

The state of the body made it apparent that it had been in that location for a significant time. The responsibility of confirming the identity of the remains was entrusted to the Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Office. After confirmation, they determined the nature of death to be homicide.

Information provided by Frank Umbrino of the Rochester Police Department revealed that on the day of her disappearance, Lopez-Moore had left her home of her own accord around 1:45 a.m. It was not unusual for her to do this. Law enforcement has not released information about why she left her home in the middle of the night or where she was going. The prolonged absence after leaving led to the filing of the missing person report. Additionally, there was a sighting of activity on one of her Facebook profiles just a day prior to her disappearance.

People, including her mother, shared their sentiments and memories of the young girl on social platforms. Kita Herring, someone acquainted with Lopez-Moore in a professional capacity, also shared her interactions with her.

The Rochester Police Department continues to delve into the circumstances of Lopez-Moore’s death. They are actively seeking input from the community, requesting any relevant details that could support the ongoing investigation.