Boaters searching for Kortney Staples found a vehicle matching her missing Nissan, bringing a weeks-long effort to a painful turning point.
CHESTER, Pa. — A weeks-long effort to find missing Chester woman Kortney Staples reached a grim turning point when boaters searching for her located a car in the Delaware River containing a body that police believe is the 33-year-old woman.
Staples’ family had been seeking answers since relatives last saw her July 11. She was reported missing to Chester police July 18, and authorities later circulated a description of both Staples and her gray Nissan Altima. The recovery of a matching vehicle near the Chester waterfront has now focused the investigation on confirming the identity of the body and determining how the car entered the river.
During the search, Staples’ relatives publicly emphasized that her unexplained absence and loss of contact were unusual. Her sister Korinne Staples told local media last week that no family members had spoken with her since July 11. The family also said Staples had not returned to her home, deepening their concern as the disappearance stretched into August.
The Chester Police Department’s missing-person notice provided details intended to make Staples and her vehicle easier to recognize. Police described Staples as a 33-year-old Black woman who was about 5 feet, 8 inches tall and weighed about 180 pounds. She had last been seen wearing blue jean shorts and a yellow shirt featuring Donald Duck.
The vehicle became another important part of the search. Police identified it as a gray Nissan Altima with Pennsylvania registration MGH-1012. Investigators said the passenger-side mirror was missing and the rear driver’s-side bumper had been damaged. The car found in the Delaware River matched the description authorities had circulated during the missing-person investigation.
The disappearance had also begun drawing wider public attention. Pennsylvania state Rep. Carol Kazeem shared information about Staples in late July, and local news coverage highlighted the family’s effort to keep the search visible. Chester police said at the time that detectives were actively investigating the disappearance.
Authorities said boaters who were searching for Staples eventually found the vehicle in the river. Search and rescue personnel responded, and the car was recovered near Norris and Front streets. Police said the body inside had tattoos that led investigators to believe it was Staples, although the medical examiner had not yet completed an official identification as of Monday.
The vehicle’s recovery also gave investigators new physical circumstances to examine. Police said it had front-end damage and that a fence along the waterfront showed damage. Investigators are trying to determine whether Staples drove off the waterfront, but police have not established publicly how the vehicle entered the river or what occurred beforehand.
Authorities said they do not currently suspect foul play. No official cause of death has been released, and police have not announced evidence showing that another person was responsible for the vehicle entering the water. Those questions remain part of the continuing investigation.
For Staples’ family, the discovery follows nearly a month of uncertainty and public searching. Formal answers now depend in part on the medical examiner, who is working to confirm the identity of the body and determine the cause of death. Chester police said the case remains under investigation.
Author note: Last updated August 10, 2026.