CONCORD, N.C. — A young woman who died less than two weeks ago was bright and had a promising future ahead of her, family members said at a rememberance ceremony Friday night in Concord.
Yadira Hernandez Castro, 18, of Concord, vanished the night of the Jan. 31 after going for a walk with her friend while there was a major winterstorm. Temperatures in the Concord area between 10:35 p.m. on Jan. 31 and 1:55 a.m. on Feb. 1 averaged 19.4 degrees with strong winds, according to the National Weather Service.
She never returned home, so Castro’s family and the community searched her. Castro was reported missing the next day, and Castro’s father found her body the day after that between two cars in a wrecker yard. She was outside for several hours, according to the investigation.
“I know my dad. He wasn’t sleeping. He wasn’t eating but as one of the oldest daughters, I told him, ‘You’re going to have to be strong.’”
Nearly two weeks later, a candlelight vigil for Yadira was held along Academy Avenue Northwest.
“She was such a curious little soul, and she was just full of energy and everyone around her will continue to tell you the same thing,” said Castro’s sister, Laura Hernandez, on Friday.
More than 100 family and friends were at the vigil and balloon release.
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Afterward, family members returned to the spot where Castro’s body was discovered.
“It was heavy, again. It’s not a situation you expect yourself to be in,” Hernandez said.
‘Wanted to travel’
Yadira Castro was an honors student and graduated early from high school.
She had dreams of working in the medical field but was helping her mother with her food truck in the meantime.
“I know she wanted to start a clothing line,” her sister said. “She wanted to travel to Mexico. She wanted to visit me in California. She wanted to travel.”
‘More focused’
Family members were upset at the police department officials, because they said they found the body, not the father.
The department apologized and the family is no longer distraught over the claim.
“But, I know, right now, my family is more focused on healing more than anything and it’s not like a matter of us versus them,” Hernandez said.
Cause of death
The medical examiner’s preliminary report. The cause of death was exposure to extreme cold conditions with alcohol listed as a contributing circumstance, according to the medical examiner’s preliminary report. There were no signs of physical assault or trauma
VIDEO: Authorities release preliminary findings in death of Concord teen found after winter storm
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