Skeletal remains found along the river in Vero Beach believed to be those of Assunta “Susy” Tomassi, missing since 2018
A five-year-long mysterious disappearance that has haunted the locals in Vero Beach, Florida, may have finally come to an end – when on the evening of March 3, the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office (IRCSO) announced that earlier in the day on Friday, deputies responded to an area near the Oslo Road boat ramp after a fisherman reported finding human remains.
Upon their arrival on the scene, detectives located the skeletal remains deep in the mangrove tree coastline approximately 150 yards north of Oslo Road. Personal items that were located near the remains led the IRCSO detectives to believe that those human remains may be those of Assunta “Susy” Tomassi, who had gone missing in 2018.
The sheriff’s office says Tomassi was last seen getting into a white pickup truck behind the Publix at Oslo Road and U.S.-1. ~ WPBF
Background: On March 16, 2018, Tomassi was last seen around 6:00 p.m. EST at her family-owned restaurant, the Quilted Giraffe, located at 500 South US Highway 1 in Vero Beach. At the time, it was also reported that Tomassi suffered from dementia.
At the time of her disappearance, she was wearing a black jacket, a blue and white striped shirt, black pants, gold shoes, and a black Coach purse. She did not have a cell phone with her at that time.
A video from behind a nearby Publix grocery store shows a large white full-size pickup truck pull up to Oslo Road and stop as Tomassi passes behind its tailgate walking west. Moments later, Tomassi walks back, approaching the driver’s side of the truck, speaks with the driver, then enters the vehicle on the passenger’s side. The truck then exits the shopping center, heading east on Oslo Road.
The same truck is seen approximately four minutes later passing by the Publix and disappearing out of sight. The driver of the truck has never been identified. Agencies with any information on the truck/driver or whereabouts of Tomassi are asked to contact the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office.
The remains were found about a mile from where Tomassi was last seen: behind the Publix at U.S. 1 and Oslo Road. ~ TC Palm
Crime Scene Detectives and District 19 Medical Examiner Investigators are actively processing the scene where those remains believed to be Tomassi’s were found. The Oslo Road boat ramp will remain closed until their work is completed.
Yesterday, Indian River County Sheriff Eric Flowers said, “While we await positive identification from the Medical Examiner’s Office, the Tomassi family has requested privacy at this time. I personally met with the Tomassi family this afternoon as we hope to bring closure to them and our community members, many of which searched alongside our agency for Susy over the past five years.”
Video: Skeletal remains found at Oslo Road boat ramp believed to be of Susy Tomassi ~ WPTV
Although we could be tempted to make some logical assumptions regarding the recently discovered skeletal remains, objectively, there are still questions remaining, including:
- Are the human remains definitely those of Assunta “Susy” Tomassi?
- If so, was foul play involved?
- Who is the owner of that white pickup truck?
The Sheriff’s Office said they’d be sharing more information after a positive identification of the remains has been made. Below, see a 2019 video regarding the search for the missing Assunta “Susy” Tomassi.
Also see: Cops searching for white pickup associated with Florida woman missing since 2018,
~ Ace News Today, Feb. 1, 2022
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today / Follow Richard on Facebook. Twitter & Instagram
