Alana Sims: The pregnant woman whose body was found next to her car with her toddler son inside

The death of a young pregnant woman whose body was discovered next to her car with her toddler son inside is still under investigation by Florida authorities. Authorities claim that Alana Sims, who was five months pregnant at the time of her death, died as a consequence of "upper body trauma." Police have also stated that her death was the result of a "targeted attack," but little else is known. Furthermore, her devastated family is currently trying to raise money for Sims' funeral while hoping for a resolution to the matter. Here are the case's four most crucial features:

Finding Alana Sims Dead with "Upper Body Trauma"

Sims, whose age was only given as being in her 20s by Tampa police, reportedly suffered "upper body trauma" on Jan. 30. Therefore, this indicates that the person or thing that inflicted the wounds that resulted in her death is currently unknown. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="896"] Image credit: Fox News[/caption]

Her child was dozing off in the back seat

When police arrived at the scene around 10 p.m., the woman's 23-month-old kid was dozing in his car seat in the rear of her Ford EcoSport SUV, according to a news release from the police force. The toddler, who turns 2 in a month, was uninjured and is currently in her family's care.

Police think it was a targeted attack

Police do suspect that Alana Sims was the victim of a targeted attack, despite the fact that the inquiry is still underway. According to the Tampa Bay Times, interim Police Chief Lee Bercaw said, "We don't believe it was random and we're following up on a lot of leads right now." Also read: Jericho Labonte – The man wanted for leaving a dead fish at ‘Goonies’ house saved from a capsized stolen boat Furthermore, according to a press release from the police, it appears Sims did not reside in the area after homicide detectives spoke with some of the neighbors. Unfortunately, persons of interest in the investigation have not yet been identified by the authorities.

Alana Sims "Always Had a Smile on Her Face" and was a "Devoted Mother"

While Sims' family grieves for her loss, they also want to make sure she is remembered as more than just a victim of crime. "Alana was the best person you could be around. She wasn't around drama," her mother, Shahlevi Sims, spoke before. She added that her daughter "stayed to herself you know just a real down-to-earth person," and added that "she loved being around her nieces, and loved her son and her family." [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Image credit: ABC Action News[/caption] Moreover, Carli Williams, Sims' sister, revealed that she and Sims, one of the family's five girls, were quite close. She remarked, "She always had a smile on her face. Was always positive no matter what."

Conclusion

As of Feb. 3, a GoFundMe effort started to assist with Sims' burial expenses had amassed more than $12,000. She is characterized as "a devoted mother who has a son who she loved very much" in the fundraising. Lastly, call the Tampa Police Department at 813-231-6130 if you have any information about this case, or submit a tip using TIP411, which is available through the TampaPD app.