A young Missouri ballerina who performed for the St. Louis Ballet was discovered dead on Wednesday morning, two days after she was reported missing, according to authorities.
On Monday, authorities said they discovered 23-year-old Raffaella Stroik’s vehicle in a parking lot of Mark Twain State Park in the town of Florida, according to Fox 2 St. Louis. The lot was designed for people using the park’s boat ramp. At the time, officials reportedly said they didn’t find the situation to be suspicious, as the woman had not been reported missing.
However, a Missouri State Trooper discovered that the vehicle was still parked in the same location the next day.
“Her keys were found laying outside the vehicle,” said MSHP Sgt. Eric Brown. “They appeared to have been intentionally placed in a certain spot on the vehicle.”
After officials contacted relatives of Stroik, she was officially reported as missing, according to the media outlet, who said “her family did not know she was at the lake located about 150 miles from St. Louis.”
An intense search was subsequently launched, which included a search of the lake. On Wednesday morning, just before 10 a.m., authorities said the woman’s remains were tragically discovered in the water on the opposite end of the lake.
While officials reportedly indicated that they don’t believe foul play to have been a factor, they have not revealed the circumstances which may have resulted in the ballet dancer’s death.
The St. Louis Ballet wrote a touching post on Facebook about Stroik, whom they described as a “beautiful dancer, spirit, and human being.”
This is a developing story. CrimeOnline will provide further updates as information becomes available.
[Feature Photo: Raffaella Stroik/Missouri State Highway Patrol]
