WELD COUNTY, Colo. — A missing 20-year-old woman at the center of a massive search in northern Colorado has been found deceased, her loved ones confirmed.
Kaylee Russell, 20, "has been found and unfortunately, she did not survive," a verified GoFundMe reads.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) issued an endangered missing alert for the 20-year-old. According to that alert, they said Russell, who lived in Evans, was last seen around 6 p.m. on Sunday near the Loveland/Johnstown Park-N-Ride parking lot. This is near Highway 402 and Interstate 25.
CBI said that day that investigators were concerned for her safety.
Her phone stopped sharing data on Sunday evening, according to a verified GoFundMe.
Amid the investigation into Russell's disappearance, first responders headed to an area just northeast of the Timnath Reservoir — which is about 15 miles north of the park-n-ride where she was last seen — around 2 p.m. after learning about a single-car crash in a canal. This was the second water search of the day in connection with this case.
CBI, Colorado State Patrol (CSP), Evans Police Department and the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office responded and found a black 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan upside down in the waterway. CSP confirmed it was Russell's car and said a body was inside. They have not identified that individual as of 5 p.m. Thursday.
However, Russell's aunt Renee Shook told Denver7's Veronica Acosta at the scene that "police told us it was her car and she was in it."
Denver7's news helicopter flew over the vehicle. Crews were seen righting the car in the water and bringing a tow truck to the shoreline. The vehicle was towed out of the water around 4:50 p.m.
When Denver7's Acosta arrived at the scene around 3:30 p.m., she was told that CSP was now leading the investigation.
CSP’s Vehicular Crimes Unit is investigating this crash.
The first water search of the day occurred a few hours prior.
Earlier in the morning, Denver7 received a tip about a possible car in a body of water near the Johnstown Ready Mix Plant, which is around the area where Russell disappeared. However, the Weld County Sheriff's Office later wrote on social media that "after dive and drone teams conducted a thorough search, no vehicle was found."
Denver7's Acosta, who also went to this initial scene, spoke with a couple of Russell's family friends who showed up at the plant. Both had been involved in search parties since the woman disappeared.
Faith Campbell told Denver7 that Russell had a flat tire, called her dad for help and he came out to replace it and then was helping her finish delivering packages. She then brought him back to his pickup, and he explained a route for her to follow. Investigators previously said that drop-off happened at the Park-n-Ride, and that she was headed to a friend's house afterward, but never showed up.
That was the last time anybody spoke to her, Campbell said.
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Loved ones of missing 20-year-old Colorado woman continue search
"We just don't have any answers," added Anne Bauer, another family friend, Thursday morning. "We don't have any leads. She is just gone, and we can't find anything. And so we're just hoping to get everybody out here, anybody that has resources to help us look. We just want to find her. We want some answers."
Both women described Russell as a sweet, family-oriented and social woman who would not randomly go off the radar.
A GoFundMe, which has been verified, was created to support Russell's mother. Campbell said Russell's brother had passed away a couple years ago and she said it was "heartbreaking" to see Russell's mother navigate another tragedy.
"I will continue to collect donations to help with upcoming funeral expenses and additional financial support for (Russell's mother) as she navigates this incredible loss," the GoFundMe organizer wrote online.
