After two weeks of hoping for the best, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office had to confirm the worst on April 14.

Based on a coroner’s report, officials from the sheriff’s office identified a body recovered from an abandoned Leeds quarry as Chelsea resident Carrie Elaine Gentry, 64. She had been missing since March 29.

Gentry, an ordained minister who founded Tender Mercies Ministry and undoubtedly touched the lives of many locals, was found in her Lexus, which was submerged in about 40 feet of water.

According to both Sheriff Chris Curry and Shelby County District Attorney Robby Owens, Gentry’s death is a homicide.

When Curry announced that the victim had been identified, he made sure that his intentions were clear by saying, “I have every belief that we will make an arrest in this case and bring Ms. Gentry’s killer to justice.”

In fact, investigators may be well on their way, as they’ve already submitted blood and DNA evidence to be analyzed.

We applaud the sheriff’s office for doing all it could to quickly find Gentry, including offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the resolution of the case.

That reward money is still available for anyone who can now share information about Gentry’s disappearance or death with law enforcement.

We ask that if any of our readers know anything that could have any bearing on the case, please share it by calling 254-7777 or visiting Metrocrimetips.com. All calls and tips are anonymous, and your information could help bring justice for a woman who worked to change lives for the better before hers was cruelly taken from her.

The We Say is the opinion of the Shelby County Reporter editorial board.