HOUMA – The three-day search for a missing woman ended in tragedy Tuesday as authorities found her body while searching marsh outside the Houma area.
Police found the body of 26-year-old Merrell Stewart next to the Highway 90 overpass outside of Houma on the way to Morgan City, according to Terrebonne Parish Sheriff Vernon Bourgeois. Bourgeois said she was fully clothed at the base of a bridge in about a foot of water, five or six miles from her house.
"Detectives got in an air boat because that area is easy to travel," Bourgeois "It's a swampy type area where the body was located, so after they launched the air boat and about 15 minutes later they actually discovered Ms. Stewart in about a foot of water next to the Highway 90 overpass."
Bourgeois said the cause of death is still under investigation. An autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday.
Relatives reported Stewart missing on Saturday, when authorities began investigating her disappearance. Bourgeois said she was last seen Thursday with her boyfriend Corey Galmore, who is also the father of one of her children. She was the mother of two children.
Bourgeois said Galmore is a suspect, though he is in jail now on outstanding warrant charges.
When Stewart didn't show up for her youngest child's first birthday on Friday, Merrell's sister, Shakilla George, knew something was wrong. Her cell phone stopped working almost immediately.
