Body Of Wash. Woman Found In Haiti Rubble

PORT ORCHARD, Wash. -- A family says the body of their 22-year-old daughter was found in Haiti, KIRO-TV in Seattle reported.

Mike and Mary Hightower had feared that their daughter, Molly Hightower, was trapped in a building in the village of Petionville where she worked and lived.

Hightower worked in a former hospital that served as a guest house, offices and school for Friends of the Orphans, or Nos Petit Freres Et Soers.

Hightower’s uncle, Father Craig Hightower, said his niece was the only one from her organization that was still missing.

The group said Tuesday the building completely collapsed in the earthquake.

A friend who escaped believed Hightower was in her fifth-floor room when the quake hit. The building collapsed and no one heard from her after that.

Friday morning, Molly's uncle said Hightower's body was recovered from the rubble of the Wasson Center in Petionville.

"Her parents, Mike and Mary, and the entire Hightower family are humbled by the love and support directed toward Molly these past few days and for the countless prayers received. We are grateful for the work and effort of all search crews in Port-au-Prince and continue to pray for those still missing and all victims," he said.

Hightower went to Bellarmine Preparatory School in Tacoma and majored in French at the University of Portland. She went to Haiti in June as a volunteer on a yearlong program to work with disabled children.

For Hightower, working at the orphanage was a family affair. Her mother worked there years ago, as did her uncle.

Shannon Casey is one of Hightower's former teachers from Bellarmine.

“She's so persistent and steady that if anyone would be doing well it would be Molly,” said Molly’s former teacher, Shannon Casey.

A friend who was visiting with Hightower from Portland was found alive. She suffered a broken arm and was airlifted to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, then on to Miami.

Hightower has a blog of her time in Haiti. See it here.

She also posted videos of the children she has encountered on YouTube. See them here.

Her family will attend a prayer service at Bellarmine Preparatory School in Tacoma Friday morning.