ALAMOSA, Colo.—Authorities say a body found in an Arizona state park may be the remains of a 19-year-old mother of two who disappeared in Colorado in 2002.
Rio Grande County, Colo., Sheriff Brian Norton said last week the body is believed to be that of Danice Day.
Day, who lived in Monte Vista, Colo., was last seen in January 2002. She had also lived in Laramie, Wyo.
Norton says the remains were found in Arizona’s Lyman Lake State Park, about 170 miles northeast of Phoenix. He says DNA tests are planned to confirm whether the body is Day’s.
He declined to say what led investigators to the site. No arrests have been made.
Day’s mother, Jonene Day of Laramie, Wyo., told the Laramie Daily Boomerang newspaper that the remains were found in a barrel in a body of water described to investigators by a suspect.
“The suspect described the barrel to a tee,” Jonene Day said.
Undersheriff Chuck Chick Thursday said he could not comment on Jonene Day’s description of how the remains were found or whether there are any suspects, citing a court gag order.
Family members immediately suspected foul play when Danice Day disappeared, leaving behind her personal belongings and her children, a 3-year-old boy and 6-month-old girl. She was last seen leaving her job at a restaurant.
Jonene Day said the possible discovery of remains reopens feelings she felt when her daughter was first reported missing.
“This is really hard, because we have to sort of start over and really grieve,” she said. “This is it.”
Added Danice Day’s sister, Jacqui Flint of New York: “It’s like, we didn’t really know for sure she was dead. And now, I feel like we’re grieving over actual death.
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Danice Day Web site:
