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Mystery after missing influencer, 26, found dead at side of road

Mystery surrounds the death of a 26-year-old influencer whose body was found naked at the side of the road, with her mother certain she was murdered.

Alexis Sharkey, an influencer who had lived in Houston, in the US state of Texas, since the start of this year, went missing on Friday (local time).

Her mother made a desperate appeal for help on social media after no one had heard from her.

“No one has heard from her for over 24 hours and the police are involved,” Ms Sharkey’s mother Stacey Clark Robinault shared on Facebook.

“She has lived in Houston Texas since January and that was where she was last seen.”

Alexis Sharkey sits on a recliner on the left and with a tea set on the right.
Alexis Sharkey's naked body was found at the side of the road days after she went missing. Source: Facebook

On Sunday, Ms Robinault confirmed her daughter had been found dead in an emotional Facebook post.

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“We cannot begin to thank you all for your love and the kind words you’ve extended to our family,” she said on Facebook.

“Please give us this time to grieve this incredible loss to our family and this world!!! We will miss you, Love!!!! (sic)”

Woman’s body found naked, with no visible injuries

Police confirmed to local news outlet KPRC Ms Sharkey’s body was found on Saturday by a Houston Public Works employee at the side of the road.

Ms Sharkey was found naked but there were no visible signs of injury on her body, another publication KVUE reported.

The cause of death has not been released and an autopsy is being done.

Pictured is Alexis Sharkey, a Texas-based influencer.
Ms Sharkey had moved to Texas at the start of the year and had an Instagram following of more than 27,000. Source: Facebook/Instagram

Speaking to ABC13, Ms Sharkey’s mother says she believes her daughter was murdered.

“It's just painful for someone so bright and having so much to offer... just to be gone, to be snuffed out. I don't know why,” Ms Robinault said.

“I don't know why. The horrific nature of her last moments must've been... I can't even. I can't even go there.”

Family pays tribute to ‘ray of sunshine’

Ms Robinault said her daughter’s husband spoke to the family on Saturday to tell them she was still missing.

Ms Sharkey’s husband Tom paid tribute to his wife on Facebook in several posts.

“You made life so incredible! Made sense of my existence! My purpose! And showed me how to truly love,” one of his tributes said.

Ms Sharkey has a prominent Instagram presence, with more than 27,000 followers and she used social media to share her travels.

In her most recent Instagram post from more than a week ago, she shared a photo from Tulum, Mexico, saying she had “decided” to move there “for the sinks and overall aesthetic”.

“I’ve never been so obsessed with the vibe of a town in my life,” she said.

Speaking to ABC13, Ms Robinault described her daughter as a “ray of sunshine” and spoke about her love for travelling.

“She was so excited about finding her way in the world. Even though we’re from a small town and she loves coming home... she wants to see the world, always wanted to see the world,” Ms Robinault said.

A GoFundMe was set up to help cover travel expenses and funeral costs for Ms Sharkey’s family.

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