A young Colorado woman who had been missing over the weekend has been found, her family confirms. Kaylee Russell, a 20-year-old from Evans, was reported missing after authorities say she disappeared while visiting family. The family described the situation as devastating.
The Colorado State Patrol reported locating Russell’s vehicle in Northern Colorado on Thursday afternoon, at the same time a search party was actively looking for her. Divers subsequently recovered a body inside the vehicle, though authorities have not publicly identified the victim pending confirmation.
An endangered missing alert had been issued by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation on Tuesday afternoon. Russell was last seen dropping off her father near a Loveland park-and-ride along I-25 after helping him change a flat tire. She had planned to visit a cousin but did not arrive for the visit.
The vehicle was found in the Timnath area, near Larimer County Road 44, appearing overturned and partially submerged in a canal.
The case is being investigated by the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Vehicular Crimes Unit.
On Wednesday night, Russell’s mother called on the public to assist in the search for her daughter. Volunteers joined the effort, combing roads, canals, and ditches in the vicinity of her last sighting. Many participants expressed deep hope that the search would yield a different outcome.
