The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office has revealed that a body was discovered inside the vehicle of missing teacher Robert Heikka, which was found in a canal on Saturday. The vehicle was located in the vicinity of 4290 Pioneer Trail. A dive team has been tasked with recovering the vehicle from the canal, where water levels have recently dropped significantly.
Heikka, who was last seen in October 2020 at his Port Orange residence, has been a teacher with Volusia County Schools since 1989. Known as Bob, he has been teaching at Creekside Middle School since 2002. In December 2020, Heikka was spotted on surveillance footage at an ATM near Canaveral Shores.
The search for Heikka and his 2012 white Chevy Impala has involved multiple agencies. Some of those involved include the FBI, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Brevard and Volusia county sheriff’s offices, and the Port Orange Police Department.
While a positive identification of the body has not yet been made, authorities have been in contact with Heikka’s family.
Further developments in this story are expected as the investigation continues.