FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) - The family of Steven James Mackrell, a man who went missing in 2015, is now mourning after finally learning what happened to him.
According to Fort Lauderdale Police, Sunshine State Sonar, a private search group, located Mackrell’s white 2013 Ford Fusion around 7:20 p.m. Thursday in a lake at 900 Peninsula Corporate Circle.
Mackrell’s family had been searching for answers for the past 10 years, left wondering what happened to him.
“To lose a child, that’s one of the hardest things any mother can go through,” said Astrid Mackrell, his mother.
After officials discovered his remains inside a submerged vehicle, his family has finally received some closure.
“I have cried for 10 years, and I’m still crying, and I’m still gonna cry,” said Astrid. “10 years thinking ‘What happened? Where is he?'”
“We’re all gonna miss him, you know, I was looking at pictures of him and it was hard to even go back and all that,” said Carolina Pascucci, his aunt. “At least we have a little bit of closure.”
Mackrell was 25-years-old when he disappeared in July 2015.
After work, he had gone to Lucky’s Tavern on Las Olas Boulevard to meet up with some friends.
A few hours later, he was seen on security camera footage at a gas station in Pompano Beach.
His family didn’t know anything after that for the next 10 years until Sunshine State Sonar discovered his remains inside a submerged vehicle in Boca Raton last week.
Dental records were used to confirm his identity.
“Finding him, being the car in the water was in the back of my mind,” said Astrid. “In the front was always ‘He’s gonna knock at the door.'”
The discovery hit his family hard, who even after 10 years, held out hope that he was still alive.
“I wasn’t really, really into finding Steven this way, you know, I was always that hope that he’ll come home, but now he’s not gonna come home,” said Astrid.
“We’ve been through a lot. She’s been through a lot with her son,” said Pascucci.
Over those 10 years, Astrid and her family never gave up on searching for Steven, who left behind a daughter who’s now 11-years-old.
Each year, the family gathered to keep his memory alive, releasing balloons in his honor.
Monday evening, his loved ones gathered together to honor his life.
“I needed this. It’s necessary to be in family,” said Astrid. “Steve would like that.”
Despite the heartbreak of knowing he’s gone, his family can finally say goodbye.
“I thank God for, that we finally found him because I’ve been praying for that for 10 years,” said Astrid.
“We miss him, but at the same time we have hope that we’re gonna see him in the future, in a new body, in a new resurrection,” said Victor Navarrete, his uncle.
Mackrell’s family was also thankful for all the support they’ve received.
“I want to thank everybody who has been with us through the 10 years with their prayers and support ’cause without the prayers, we could not keep going,” said Astrid.
Mackrell’s family said they are working on funeral arrangements.
While it’s assumed Mackrell drove his car into the lake, authorities have not confirmed that as they continue to investigate what happened.
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