The human remains that suspected serial killer Scott Lee Kimball led investigators to in Moab, Utah, most likely belong to Leann Emry, a Colorado woman missing since 2003.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted DNA testing on the bones, and it is 99 percent sure the remains are Emry, Grand County Sheriff Jim Nyland told the Salt Lake Tribune on Monday.
Kimball, in custody on an unrelated theft conviction, told investigators about the area where the bones of Emry and another missing woman, Jennifer Marcum, might be, but he has denied killing anyone.
Kimball, 42, is suspected in the disappearances of four people: Emry of Centennial; Marcum, who danced at a Glendale strip club; his own uncle, Terry Kimball; and Kaysi McLeod, the 19-year-old daughter of his former wife.
The bones of McLeod were found in Jackson County in September 2007, five years after she disappeared.
No homicide charges have been filed against Scott Kimball.
Emry told family members she was going camping and never returned.
Her bones were found in eastern Utah in a mountainous area north of Interstate 70 known as the Book Cliffs. They were located March 11, about 150 yards from an unmanned natural-gas well.
The remains of Marcum and Terry Kimball have not been found.
Emry’s father, Howard, said the DNA results are bittersweet.
” I’m glad we have found, for sure, what happened to my daughter. There is a closure there,” he said. “More importantly, they have found the person who murdered her. I’m very happy about that. I’d feel worse than I already feel if I knew there was a person already out there who is doing things to other people.”
Howard Emry laments that he won’t ever see his daughter again.
“It’s hard to cope with that reality. That’s the bitter part,” he said. “At least I can be happy that they have found my daughter, and they have the person in prison.
“I’m grieving for the Marcums. They haven’t found their daughter yet. I won’t feel happy about this until they find Jennifer’s body as well.”
In December, Kimball was sentenced to 48 years in prison after pleading guilty to a Boulder County theft case. The sentence was enhanced because he admitted that he is a habitual criminal. While Kimball has been in custody, authorities have been searching for remains.
9News investigative reporter Jace Larson and Salt Lake Tribune reporter Nate Carlisle contributed to this story.
Felisa Cardona: 303-954-1219 or fcardona@denverpost.com
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