The body of Teleka Patrick, a Kalamazoo physician who has been missing since last December, may have been found in a lake in northern Indiana.
Although authorities have yet to positively identify the body, her family confirmed to the local NBC affiliate that they believe it to be Patrick.
“Our family was informed that a body was found that may be our daughter Teleka Patrick. We are waiting for official confirmation from the Kalamazoo Sheriff’s Department and have no comment at this time. Thank you for your continued prayers — we ask that you respect our privacy at this difficult time,” they said in a statement.
On December 5th, Dr. Patrick, 30, disappeared after a shift at Borgess Medical Center where she is a resident. Dr. Patrick is a first-year resident in psychotherapy. Her purse and cell phone were found inside the hospital and her credit cards, ID, and keys were found inside of her car found abandoned in a ditch on Interstate 94 in northern Indiana. Dr. Patrick was nowhere to be found.
Her story was briefly overshadowed by reports that she had allegedly stalked gospel singer Reverend Marvin Sapp prior to her disappearance. However, there was never any link established between Patrick’s reported infatuation with Sapp and her case.
The body was dragged from Lake Charles on Sunday and was so badly decomposed that fingerprints or dental records will have to be used to confirm an identity. But the coroner said there were no obvious signs of trauma. A full autopsy will be performed early this week.
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