A young San Antonio mother was found dead after a 24-hour search, but it wasn’t police who found her. It was loved ones.

SAN ANTONIO — A young mother is dead, and her family says it didn’t have to be this way.

SAPD confirmed 21-year-old Jolie Pesina died in a car crash earlier this week.

They say the crash happened off Southwest Loop 410 near Highway 16 early Monday morning. But Pesina wasn’t found until Tuesday afternoon.

KENS 5 was told officers responded to an area of the highway where her cellphone had sent a crash alert just before 6 a.m.

After SAPD and SAFD searched for some time on Monday morning, they left once they couldn’t find a scene.

Purple ribbon, a lily, and the word "Mom" now rest next to torn metal. They're reminders of the life that a family never gave up on.

In a GoFundMe post, 21-year-old Jolie Pesina’s family said in part: “On Monday, November 17th, our sweet Jolie Pesina Charles l