Two women found inside a vehicle recovered from the St. Joseph River in Niles are believed to be the South Bend women who had been reported missing since Sunday, Sep. 13.

The vehicle was discovered on Tuesday afternoon.

Authorities have not released formal identifications, but police said the clothing worn by the women matched descriptions of what 23-year-old Alexa Navarro and 24-year-old Vanessa Bautista were last known to be wearing.

Navarro and Bautista, both young mothers, had been missing after going out for a birthday celebration early Sunday morning.

Their last known location was a cellphone ping in the Niles area.

The investigation remains ongoing.