Friends remembered Mustang graduate Carina Breann Saunders as their sister — smart, funny and genuine, a talented singer and a loving friend.
Aimiee Jordan said they are all in shock.
“I can't grasp it at all right now,” she said. “I still feel like she is missing, and she will be back.”
A body was found Oct. 13 inside a duffel bag found behind a grocery store in the 7100 block of NW 23rd Street. Bethany Police Chief Phil Cole confirmed Monday that the remains were identified as Saunders, 19. Oklahoma Medical Examiner's Office officials ruled the death a homicide, but as of Tuesday, a cause of death has not been determined.
Anyone with information is asked to call Bethany police at 789-2323. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the FBI and the Oklahoma City Police Department Homicide Division are assisting in the case.
Oklahoma City police released reports showing Saunders' cousin Kathryn Bloodworth had received threatening text messages. The complaint was filed Oct. 9. She told police Saunders' family had not heard from her.
On Oct. 10, Saunders' mother Margie Queen filed a missing persons report with the Oklahoma City department. Bloodworth told police she let Saunders stay at her home, and she last saw her on Sept. 28 when she took her to a business at Interstate 40 and Rockwell Avenue. There, Saunders met a white man in his 40s, about 6-feet-tall, 190 pounds with gray hair. Her cousin told police she got into an older blue Chevrolet Blazer and left. That was the last time she saw her, Bloodworth reported to police.
Bethany police reported they believe Saunders was last seen alive on Oct. 8 or Oct. 9 near NW 41st Street and MacArthur Boulevard.
When Jordan learned her friend was missing, she helped set up a Facebook page “Carina Come Home.” The page drew more than 200 friends in a few days.
Choking back tears, Saunders' friend Brittny Acosta said they knew she was going through tough times and tried to make sure she knew they were all there to support her.
“We want Carina to be remembered for all of the good things,” she said.
Saunders was one of the first people Jordan met when her family moved to Mustang from England when she was 12. Jordan said she was scared to start school in her new country, but all of that melted away when she met Saunders because her new friend made sure she knew she belonged. She said they were close friends, like sisters, ever since.
Life was never dull, she said. Even when they were broke, Saunders would come up with something fun and goofy for them to do. Jordan said her friend loved scary movies and teased her about being frightened.
“She was friends with everybody,” Jordan said. “She was such a sweet person. Everybody liked her.”
Saunders loved to sing and was active in choir through high school. She aspired at times to become an opera singer and took lessons.
Melissa Wagner, who was in choir with Saunders throughout high school, said her friend's talent was innate.
“It was amazing how beautiful her voice was, even when she wasn't trying to sing choir,” she said.
Saunders made choir trips fun, whether they were stuck on the bus for hours, practicing or out to eat. Wagner said she could be having the worst day, but her friend knew exactly what to say to lift her spirits.
“She genuinely cared about each and every one of our friends,” Wagner said.
Haley Anderson called Saunders hilarious and wacky.
“She was always doing something off the wall and funny,” Anderson said. “She was always trying to make you laugh and make you smile, but she really didn't have to do anything to make that happen. All she had to do was walk into a room, and you'd feel her energy.”
Jordan said Saunders is one of the smartest people she's met. Her friend graduated a semester early from high school but still came back to participate in the choir.
“We kind of lost touch when she graduated because she went off to do her own thing,” Jordan said.
The women last got together on Sept. 18 for a friend's baby shower. Acosta said when they saw each other it was just like old times — they had a blast.
“She was so happy and full of life, and we were so happy to see her that way, because she has had been going through troubled times,” she said.
While Wagner said she's glad they all got to see each other again, she can't believe her friend is gone.
“It nearly makes me sick to my stomach that we will never have that again,” she said.