KENT COUNTY, Mich. — A Kent County woman who has been reported missing was found dead in a Wyoming apartment this week.
Mollie Schmidt, 33, was last seen Sunday, Aug. 21 at her home near the East Beltline and 5 Mile Road NE.
Police believed she was with Yenly Garcia, 44, who lives in Wyoming. After executing a search warrant at his apartment on the 1500 block of 44th St. SW on Aug. 30, police found Mollie's body, dead from a gunshot wound.
According to court documents filed against Garcia, detectives accuse him of trying to use Schmidt's credit card after she went missing.
Law enforcement said they found a shotgun and an AR-15 rifle in the apartment.
Garcia has a previous felony conviction and is not allowed to possess firearms, prosecutors claim.
Police are still searching for Garcia, who they say is a person of interest in the investigation. He is described as 5’10, 200 lbs., with dark hair and distinct tattoos on his face.
He drives a black 2019 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck with Michigan license plate ELW6780. Garcia has a warrant out for his arrest on unrelated charges to this case.
The death investigation is now in the hands of the Wyoming Police Department and it was ruled a homicide.
Family says Schmidt had five children.
"She was a loving, loving person. She adored her children," Lisa McGraw, Schmidt's aunt, says. "No one ever imagines this can happen in your family. And, you know, it's horrible. It's absolutely horrible."
McGraw says Schmidt missed one of her children's first day of kindergarten, which she says was unlike her.
"That was when the alarm bells went off," she says.
McGraw says the family is thankful to everyone who's helped search for Schmidt and supported them.
"She was one of the strongest people I knew. And she overcame some difficulties," she says. "Her family loved her."
Anyone with information on Garcia's whereabouts is asked to contact the Kent County Sheriff's Office at 616-632-6125 or Silent Observer at 616-774-2345.
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