TITUSVILLE, Fla. — A suspect is in custody after the discovery of the body of a missing Titusville woman inside the trunk of a car in Tennessee sparked a manhunt, according to Titusville police.
Police said 27-year-old Courtney Gibson owned the vehicle that the body of 36-year-old Anna Primavere was found in. Primavere had been missing since last Friday.
Gibson turned herself in in Lebanon, Tennessee, according to Titusville police. Officials are working to extradite her back to Florida.
Primavere’s family released the following statement to Channel 9:
“Thank you all for your kind words and support during this difficult time. While we were holding out hope, we received the news we feared the most last night. The family is working closely with local law enforcement to seek justice and closure but nothing will ever fill the hole that’s been left in our hearts. My sister Anna was always full of life, making friends, and loved her family & close friends fiercely. She left a lasting impression on everyone she met. She was a great daughter, sister, and friend.”
According to police, Gibson was babysitting the child of Primavere’s landlord, Zongmu Wang. Investigators said they believe Primavere may have confronted Gibson about injuries she found on the child that Friday.
“Evidence shows the victim was violently killed inside the home right after getting home with the child,” Deputy Chief Todd Hutchinson said.
Officials said Gibson took off after the incident and left the child home alone. She was then captured on a Ring doorbell with a mattress on the roof of her vehicle. Police said after the mattress fell off her vehicle, Gibson burned it on the side of the road.
Primavere’s mattress was missing when police initially searched the home after family reported her missing.
READ MORE: Have you seen her? Titusville police searching for woman
Gibson was previously last seen on Sunday and fled without a car or a cellphone after police confronted her in Tennessee.
Wang was taken into custody when investigators said his child was covered in bruises and remains in Brevard County Jail.
“Sadly, for everyone involved, this has ended in the worst-case scenario,” investigations Lt. Chris Deloach said in a news release.
Investigators said Gibson is facing a child neglect charge for leaving the child she was babysitting home alone. They said murder charges are still pending.