Police have identified the body of a young woman found earlier today in the Lochwood area as 18-year-old Zoe Hastings.
We also have learned that her father, James Hastings, is a local artist and an art teacher at Merriman Park Elementary in the Richardson ISD.
Her family says she left home at 4:45 p.m. yesterday in the white Honda Odyssey police later recovered in the creek in the 11700 block of Dixfield Drive Monday morning, which we reported earlier today. Police at a press conference a few minutes ago say Hastings died of “obvious homicidal violence.” She was headed to a missionary class at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 10701 E Lake Highlands, but never made it. Police are asking anyone who saw the vehicle or Hastings yesterday to call the DPD homicide unit 214.671.3584.
This murder is completely unconnected to a murder on the White Rock Creek Trail earlier today, police say.
Knowing Lake Highlands as we do, expect community efforts to help the Hastings family. We will keep you posted on this site.
UPDATE: More information, including how to help, can be found here.
Carol Toler contributed to the reporting.