‘I hope she gets justice:’ Consuelo Bernabe’s children seeking answers amid devastating loss
ROSEBUD, Texas (KWTX) - A Rosebud family is grieving after first responders pulled their loved one’s body from the Brazos River Monday.
Police said they found 39-year-old Consuelo Bernabe inside a minivan submerged in the water.
Authorities are calling the death questionable.
Bernabe’s son, David Romero, said his family members feel like they’re living in a nightmare and can’t believe this is their reality.
The fact that no one is sure how Bernabe ended up in the river makes matters worse.
“She was always smiling. She always took care of her kids, that was her main priority. She always took care of us when she had the chance,” said Romero.
Romero said he and his six siblings got the worst news of their lives Monday when authorities alerted them that their mother was found dead in her maroon Dodge Caravan submerged in the river.
Family members said they were able to track Bernabe’s pin on her car and eventually found tire marks at the scene.
Romero said he was also at the scene, and when he heard the news, he was devastated.
“All the flashbacks just came back to me of all the times we’ve spent together. The tough times, the good times, everything,” said Romero.
Romero said Bernabe was last seen on Friday and family members filed a missing person report.
He said it’s not like Bernabe to vanish and not contact anyone.
“I wasn’t trying to overthink. I was like, ‘but that’s not like my mom.’ She always has her phone on her, she’ll answer any call and message that you send her,” said Romero.
Romero said he’s willing to step up and lead the family, while making sure his siblings graduate school.
“After losing my mom, we’re going to have to push each other to the limit.”
Investigators aren’t sure how long the minivan was in the water and police call the death questionable, which made the family’s list of questions longer than their list of answers.
“If it was just her drowning, I’ll be at peace with that. But if it’s something else, I hope she gets justice,” said her daughter, Hermelinda Romero. “I’ll always love her no matter what, and I’ll always remember you.”
If you would like to help with Bernabe’s funeral expenses, click here.
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