NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. - The body of Robert Heikka, a teacher who'd been missing for over two years, was discovered and identified in New Smyrna Beach this week according to the Volusia Sheriff's Office. Heikka was found in his car, submerged underwater in a canal along Pioneer Trail.
The car was identified by Recon Dive Recovery and Sunshine State Sonar, two groups volunteering in the efforts to search dozens of bodies of water in the area. His location was reportedly narrowed down by data from Heikka's cell phone.
The vehicle's tags were matched to Heikka's after it was pulled out of the water, and the body inside was later confirmed to be his. A representative with Recon Dive Recovery said the team searched over three dozen bodies of water in half a day, leading to the eventual discovery of their missing person.
For Heikka's family the news is heartbreaking but no doubt brings closure to a long, painful story. Heikka had gone missing on October 25th, 2020, and since then there hadn't been much in the way of positive updates in the search. The family was informed the day of the discovery according to a spokesman with the VSO. The canal where Heikka's body was found is only a few miles from the family's home.
Robert Heikka had worked with Volusia County Schools since 1989, beginning his tenure at Port Orange's Creekside Middle School in 2002.
