November 4, 2009 North Dakota college students found dead in sunken Jeep Play video

(NECN/CTV) - There has been a sudden and tragic turn of events in a case involving three women missing in North Dakota since this past weekend. All three women were members of a college softball team, and all three have been found dead -- their bodies inside a Jeep, underwater.

20-year-old Afton Williamson, 22-year-old Kyrston Gemar, both from California, and a Canadian, 21-year-old Ashley Neufeld of Brandon, Manitoba, played together on the Dickinson State University softball team. Police believe they died together.

Their bodies were found northwest of Dickinson in a vehicle that was found in a stock pond.

The search for the girls started Monday morning. By Tuesday, it had grown. Rescue teams were focusing near the cell tower, where the last signal was received. Police believe it finally led them to the scene.

The women were last seen in a white 1997 Jeep Cherokee with California license plates.

Foul play is not suspected, but police say it has not been ruled out. Autopsies will be performed in the coming days.

Reporter Jill Macyshon has the story from Dickinson, North Dakota.