The slain 18-year-old woman whose body was found in an east-side lake Wednesday morning was a single mom who hoped to donate a kidney to her ailing mother and join the Army, her family said Thursday.
Vanessa Romero was found dead about 5 a.m. Wednesday in the lake at Chuck Ford Lakeside Park, 8300 E. Stella Road.
Romero had a 1-year-old daughter for whom her family is now caring, according to a news release issued Thursday by Homicide Survivors, a local nonprofit support group.
Romero's mother, Yolanda, needs a kidney transplant and is on full dialysis, the release said.
Yolanda Romero said Vanessa "insisted on giving me a kidney," according to the release. Vanessa was attending the Teenage Parenting Program and wanted to join the Army, the release said.
Homicide Survivors has established a fund to help the family. Donations can be made online at www.azhomicidesurvivors.org or by visiting the Homicide Survivors office at 32 N. Stone Ave., Suite 1408.
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Tucson police have not released any information on how Romero died or if they have any suspects.
Anyone with information about the crime is asked to call 911 or 88-CRIME.
Contact reporter Brian J. Pedersen at bjp@azstarnet.com or call 573-4224.
