A woman whose body was found buried in snow near a church in Fort Collins has been identified as Patricia Wilkins-Wells, the Larimer County Coroner’s Office announced today.
Wilkins-Wells, 59, of Ft. Collins, was identified using fingerprint comparison by an agency of the FBI. She was a full professor of sociology at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley and also taught on-line courses at Colorado State University in Ft. Collins. She had been reported missing on Jan. 2 by her husband, a sociology professor at CSU who hadn’t seen her since Dec. 31.
Her family declined to comment to the media. But her co-workers said she was very popular and respected.
“She was incredibly conscientious,” said fellow sociology professor Melanie Moore. “She was very sweet. The students loved her.”
An autopsy was planned for this afternoon to determine the cause of death, said coroner’s investigator Maury Miller.
Her body was found partially buried in snow Sunday by children who were playing near Foothills Unitarian Church.
About 11 a.m., four children found the body while playing on the west side of the church property, 1815 Yorktown Ave. in Fort Collins.
Police say a church member contacted them about the body.
The body had been there for some time, police said. There were no obvious signs of foul play, police said.
Wilkins-Wells’ family delcined to comment to the media.
