UPDATE | On Sunday, a helicopter assisting the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office in its search for missing 3-year-old Adelesia located the body of a small child in a canal near 29 Road matching the description of Adelesia. The Mesa County Coroner’s Office is working to identify the deceased and will release their name once next-of-kin is notified.
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Mesa County authorities began draining Sunday a canal system in search for a missing 3-year-old girl who was last seen Saturday evening.
Adelesia, who answers to Addie Rae, was last seen at 6 p.m. at a home on Orchard Ave between 29 ½ Road and 30 Road. A 911 call reporting Adelesia missing came in 13 minutes later.
Mesa County Sheriff deputies, police officers, search and rescue volunteers and family members immediately began searching the surrounding area. During the search, they had found evidence Adelesia had been near the Grand Valley Irrigation Canal, which snakes around the neighborhood.
Authorities said it could take up to take 48 hours for the canal to drain enough to search. Meanwhile, volunteers and deputies will continue searching the surrounding community. Saturday, several miles around the canal, and the home where she was last seen, were searched extensively.
Adelesia was wearing a tan shirt with an orange fox and orange and blue pants. It is believed she wandered off. If you see Addie Rae or know of her whereabouts, please call 911 immediately.