Thornton police searching for a 10-year-old girl who disappeared during a heavy rainstorm Wednesday night said Thursday evening that they have found the body of a child.
Officers cordoned off an area in a green space near Jasmine Court and Monaco Way. The discovery came hours after Kiaya Campbell went missing while walking with a teenage boy.
Authorities believe they’ve found the girl’s body but are waiting positive identification, which will be made by the Adams County coroner’s office, said Matt Barnes, a police spokesman.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Concerned neighbors watch as the Adams County coroner arrives at the scene of where the body of a young girl has been found on June 8, 2017 in Thornton. Kiaya Campbell, 10, had been missing since late Wednesday night. Around 5:30 p.m. Thursday police called off the search as a body of a young girl had been found in the Riverdale Park neighborhood at Monoco Way and Jasmine Court.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Concerned neighbors watch the scene of where the body of a young girl has been found on June 8, 2017 in Thornton. Kiaya Campbell, 10, had been missing since late Wednesday night. Around 5:30 p.m. Thursday police called off the search as a body of a young girl had been found in the Riverdale Park neighborhood at Monoco Way and Jasmine Court.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Concerned neighbors watch as the Adams County coroner arrives at the scene of where the body of a young girl has been found on June 8, 2017 in Thornton. Kiaya Campbell, 10, had been missing since late Wednesday night. Around 5:30 p.m. Thursday police called off the search as a body of a young girl had been found in the Riverdale Park neighborhood at Monoco Way and Jasmine Court.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Concerned neighbors watch the scene of where the body of a young girl has been found on June 8, 2017 in Thornton. Kiaya Campbell, 10, had been missing since late Wednesday night. Around 5:30 p.m. Thursday police called off the search as a body of a young girl had been found in the Riverdale Park neighborhood at Monoco Way and Jasmine Court.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
A Thornton police officer talks to a neighbor near the scene of where the body of a young girl has been found on June 8, 2017 in Thornton. Kiaya Campbell, 10, had been missing since late Wednesday night. Around 5:30 p.m. Thursday police called off the search as a body of a young girl had been found in the Riverdale Park neighborhood at Monoco Way and Jasmine Court.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Concerned neighbors watch the scene of where the body of a young girl has been found on June 8, 2017 in Thornton. Kiaya Campbell, 10, had been missing since late Wednesday night. Around 5:30 p.m. Thursday police called off the search as a body of a young girl had been found in the Riverdale Park neighborhood at Monoco Way and Jasmine Court. Police have not verified if the body is that of Campbell's.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Thornton police officers keep guard over the scene of where the body of a young girl has been found on June 8, 2017 in Thornton. Kiaya Campbell, 10, had been missing since late Wednesday night. Around 5:30 p.m. Thursday police called off the search as a body of a young girl had been found in the Riverdale Park neighborhood at Monoco Way and Jasmine Court.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
A couple, right, who may have witnessed the body, speak with Thornton officers at the scene of where the body of a young girl has been found on June 8, 2017 in Thornton. Kiaya Campbell, 10, had been missing since late Wednesday night. Around 5:30 p.m. Thursday police called off the search as a body of a young girl had been found in the Riverdale Park neighborhood at Monoco Way and Jasmine Court.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Thornton police officers keep guard over the scene of where the body of a young girl has been found on June 8, 2017 in Thornton. Kiaya Campbell had been missing since late Wednesday night. Around 5:30 p.m. Thursday police called off the search as a body of a young girl had been found in the Riverdale Park neighborhood at Monoco Way and Jasmine Court.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Two neighbors, who may have witnessed the body, are visibly shaken at the scene of where the body of a young girl has been found on June 8, 2017 in Thornton. Kiaya Campbell, 10, had been missing since late Wednesday night. Around 5:30 p.m. Thursday police called off the search as a body of a young girl had been found in the Riverdale Park neighborhood at Monoco Way and Jasmine Court.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Thornton police officers keep guard over the scene of where the body of a young girl has been found on June 8, 2017 in Thornton. Kiaya Campbell, 10, had been missing since late Wednesday night. Around 5:30 p.m. Thursday police called off the search as a body of a young girl had been found in the Riverdale Park neighborhood at Monoco Way and Jasmine Court.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Brooklyn Mitchell, 7 and her brother Ethan, 9 joined in with hundreds of people at Skyview Elementary school to help in the search for missing 10-year-old Kiaya Campbell on June 8, 2017 in Thornton. Kiaya Campbell had been missing since late Wednesday night. Around 5:30 p.m. Thursday police called off the search as a body of a young girl had been found in the Riverdale Park neighborhood at Monoco Way and Jasmine Court.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Thornton police officers keep guard over the scene of where the body of a young girl has been found on June 8, 2017 in Thornton. Kiaya Campbell, 10, had been missing since late Wednesday night. Around 5:30 p.m. Thursday police called off the search as a body of a young girl had been found in the Riverdale Park neighborhood at Monoco Way and Jasmine Court.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Alayah Maestas, 9 and her little sister Aleis, 7, joined in with hundreds of people at Skyview Elementary school to help in the search for missing 10-year-old Kiaya Campbell on June 8, 2017 in Thornton. Kiaya Campbell had been missing since late Wednesday night. Around 5:30 p.m. Thursday police called off the search as a body of a young girl had been found in the Riverdale Park neighborhood at Monoco Way and Jasmine Court.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Hundreds of people turned out at Skyview Elementary school to help in the search for missing 10-year-old Kiaya Campbell on June 8, 2017 in Thornton. Kiaya Campbell had been missing since late Wednesday night. Around 5:30 p.m. Thursday police called off the search as a body of a young girl had been found in the Riverdale Park neighborhood at Monoco Way and Jasmine Court.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Adams County sheriff deputies gather in the neighborhood of missing 10-year-old Kiaya Campbell on June 8, 2017 in Thornton. Campbell had been missing since late last night. Around 5:30 p.m. Thursday police called off the search as a body of a young girl had been found in the Riverdale Park neighborhood at Monoco Way and Jasmine Court.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Thornton police officers and FBI agents question vehicles entering the neighborhood of missing 10-year-old Kiaya Campbell on June 8, 2017 in Thornton. Campbell had been missing since late Wednesday night. Around 5:30 p.m. Thursday police called off the search as a body of a young girl had been found in the Riverdale Park neighborhood at Monoco Way and Jasmine Court.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
An FBI agent questions vehicles entering the neighborhood of missing 10-year-old Kiaya Campbell on June 8, 2017 in Thornton. Campbell had been missing since late Wednesday night. Around 5:30 p.m. Thursday police called off the search as a body of a young girl had been found in the Riverdale Park neighborhood at Monoco Way and Jasmine Court.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
A Thornton police cruiser follows a member of the Jefferson County K-9 unit as they look for signs of missing 10-year-old Kiaya Campbell on June 8, 2017 in Thornton. Campbell had been missing since late Wednesday night. Around 5:30 p.m. Thursday police called off the search as a body of a young girl had been found in the Riverdale Park neighborhood at Monoco Way and Jasmine Court.
Steve Nehf, The Denver Post
Friends search for missing 10-year-old Thornton girl Kiaya Campbell at Fox Creek Thursday, June 8, 2017.
Steve Nehf,The Denver Post
Thornton Police search in the area of Brantner Gulch where 10-year-old Kiaya Campbell went missing Thursday, June 8, 2017.
Steve Nehf, The Denver Post
Neighbors of the family of Kiaya Campbell, a 10-year-old girl reported missing, search in the area of Fox Creek Thursday morning, June 8, 2017.
Steve Nehf,The Denver Post
Thornton Police and members of Rampart Search and Rescue search in the area of Brantner Gulch where 10-year-old Kiaya Campbell went missing Thursday, June 8, 2017.
Steve Nehf,The Denver Post
Thornton police outside the home of Kiaya Campbell, a 10-year-old girl reported missing Wednesday night after being separated from a companion during a rainstorm.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
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Concerned neighbors watch as the Adams County coroner arrives at the scene of where the body of a young girl has been found on June 8, 2017 in Thornton. Kiaya Campbell, 10, had been missing since late Wednesday night. Around 5:30 p.m. Thursday police called off the search as a body of a young girl had been found in the Riverdale Park neighborhood at Monoco Way and Jasmine Court.
After the discovery, police were working to determine how the girl’s body came to be in the area and what caused her death.
“We’re not ruling anything out,” said Barnes of the investigation. Police didn’t have anyone in custody Thursday night. Investigators, however, eventually may “find the person responsible,” he said.
Members of the community who had gathered at nearby Skyview Elementary School, volunteers who had planned to help in the search, stood in a circle with their heads bowed after the police announcement. Some people hugged each other and cried.
Courtesy Thornton Police Department
Kiaya Campbell
“Bye, I love you,” one woman called out to a another as the crowd broke up.
Brittani Cain, who lives in Thornton and attended Skyview, showed up with her husband and three sons. “We came out because it’s part of being the community,” Cain said. “I would want the same if it happened to any of my kids.”
Barnes thanked the gathering — about 500 strong — for an “outpouring of support.”
The body was found about two miles east of the location where , Barnes said. A resident in the area called police after finding the body.
A couple, a man and a woman, filled out police reports on the hood of a patrol car parked in front of a home. Afterward, the distraught couple sat on front steps of the home, hugging, consoling each other.
Police and FBI agents were going door to door Thursday evening on the block, looking to speak with residents and possible witnesses.
Campbell had been in the 12900 block of Colorado Boulevard during a heavy rainstorm between 8:30 and 9 p.m. Wednesday. Police said she got separated from a 15-year-old boy who was walking with her near her father’s house near East 136th Avenue and Colorado.
“He started running, and (she) didn’t,” Barnes said. The teen is the son of her father’s girlfriend.
Authorities had said there were concerned the child may have been swept away in a flash flood and searched street culverts and drainage ditches, Barnes said. Police spent much of Thursday performing a grid search looking for the girl. Police dogs also helped with the search.
At 11:52 p.m. Wednesday, officers were called to a home on the 12400 block of Forest Drive for a report of a missing child. Police posted a Twitter notice, including photos, about Kiaya being missing at 6:55 a.m. Thursday. An Amber alert was issued about 1:30 p.m., the search was called off late Thursday afternoon.
Barnes said: “This is not the conclusion, or end, we were searching for.”
