Body believed to be Austin mom found in trunk of car at Houston-area home: Sources

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A body found at a northwest Harris County home is believed to be that of missing Austin mother Heidi Broussard, according to sources. An autopsy will likely be performed Friday.

According to records from the medical examiner’s office, the body was found in the trunk of a car.

At least one person is in custody.

A 1-month-old girl was found alive inside the same house on Bo Jack Drive near Jersey Village, where officers and agents from the Texas Rangers, Department of Public Safety, FBI and the Austin Police Department searched for hours overnight.

An ambulance took the baby to the hospital. According to Cy-Fair Volunteer Fire Department, she didn’t have any obvious injuries, but Child Protective Services called in requesting an evaluation.

The identity of the baby hasn’t been released.

Investigators told ABC News they feared foul play from the start because one child was missing and one was left behind. Officials said the presumption is that if a mother were to run away voluntarily, she would either take both children or leave both behind. This particular situation was suspicious immediately.

TIMELINE: What we know about missing Austin mom and her 1-month-old baby

What we know about missing Austin mom and her baby

At one point, ABC13 counted about two dozen officers and agents at the home.

An Eyewitness News crew waited for what was believed to be a warrant service. Then, around 8:15 p.m., there was movement, with law enforcement going into the house.

But, authorities seemed to be more focused on a car in the driveway in the back.

SkyEye 13 captured on camera a vehicle parked in a driveway towards the back of a home on Bo Jack Drive near Jersey Village, on Dec. 19, 2019.

SkyEye 13 was overhead earlier in the day, and a Nissan was seen parked up close to the house.

Broussard and her infant daughter haven’t been seen since Dec. 12. That morning, Broussard dropped off her 6-year-old son at school. She then returned home and wasn’t seen again.

Her car was left in the apartment parking lot, and she left her purse, ID and the baby’s diaper bag.

WATCH: SkyEye 13 over northwest Houston home investigated by FBI, Austin police, DPS, Texas Rangers

There’s a possibility the large police presence near Jersey Village in northwest Harris County may be connected to a high-profile case:

Through online records and a source, we learned the car investigators were interested in at the scene in Harris County is registered to someone Broussard knows.

A neighbor told ABC13 police asked her Thursday night whether she remembers any movement here on that day. The only official response from the FBI is a vague statement: “The FBI is lawfully present at the location conducting a law enforcement operation.”

FBI Houston tweeted Friday morning that it has handed the investigation over to Austin police.

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