By Rod Day

Dearest Danice,

Once again, I am compelled to speak to you on paper. I am looking at the calendar I have on my desk that is solely dedicated to keeping track of the many days and weeks that have passed since you first became "missing" (285 days-nearly 41 weeks!).

Even though I know that there is no way to convey to you the continued heartbreak and sadness that we (your family, your babies, and your friends) feel, I want you to know that we still pray daily for some closure to this nightmare. Little Joshua has begun to ask more and more questions concerning the whereabouts of his Mommie. Judy and I finally had to break down and try to explain to him why he lives with Grandma and Grandpa now-and that Mommie was not coming to get him. Yes, it hurt him to hear that-but, thankfully, a 3 year olds' mind is easily distracted.

As usual, there is a secondary reason for my writing to you today. While looking through some of your things this past weekend, we came across a poem that you had written a few years ago. It is the poem that was published in "A Celebration of Poets 1998", using you penname K.D. Prater. I had read the poem a number of times, but this weekend I realized that I had never really read it.

March On
By Danice L. Day
(penname of K.D. Prater)

One day I thought I saw
I saw you standing there,
But then you turned away,
You were without a care.
I called to you,
I called your name,
But silence is what I got,
I know what you think you're doing-
Hurting me.
But you're not.
I'm strong now, you know,
Strong unlike before,
And I don't need your fickle ways,
Your apologies anymore.
I'm actually living life for once,
Without you,
I'm happy to say,
So go ahead and waste your time,
But me,
I've marched away.

Even with all the anger you must have because of what has happened to you-I picture you with your head held high, your shoulders back, and a chuckle in your voice-saying to the person who did this to you: "You didn't hurt me because I did not give you permission! I will live on you loser, and I will have family and friends thinking good thoughts and remembering good things about me. What about you? What are your few friends going to say about you? What will your family find that they can say they're proud of? I repeat, loser!"

Danice, as you can see this poem got me pretty excited. I can point fingers at certain individuals just as you can. The one/ones responsible for this and he/she and their accomplices will pay. All of my choice adjectives and heritage description of those involved all boils down to the one word that best describes them all-LOSER.

We were told that there was another "body" found this weekend close by. As of now-no word on identity. Our hearts sank as usual. We are trying to keep some form of faith. We get closer every day to bringing this to a permanent close.

I love you, kiddo! We all love you!
Your Dad

Posted by jacqui at 05:26 PM | Permalink

By Debbie Pittman

RIO GRANDE COUNTY - Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) was in the Valley over the weekend following up new leads in the Danice Day case.

The 19-year-old mother of two children was last seen January 9 in Monte Vista. Day left home, allegedly telling boyfriend Victor Braun that she was going out with friends. She left behind her car and cell phone.

DA's Investigator Shawn Woods and CBI investigators visited various locations in the Valley with special tracking bloodhounds supplied by Allen Duffy, owner of Bloodhound Investigations of Denver.

"We are investigating every lead," said Woods. Allen Duffy became involved with tracking dogs about 15 years ago when his own brother disappeared and was later found murdered in cold blood.

Said Duffy, "He just was in the wrong place at the wrong time and it cost him his life. If they had used bloodhounds at that time, they would have found my brother sooner and saved our family a lot of grief."

Duffy and his bloodhounds have worked cases as long as nine to 12 months after a disappearance.

A bloodhound's sense of smell is so incredibly sensitive and accurate that it has the distinction of being the only animal whose 'testimony' can be used as evidence in United States courts.

The dog's sense of smell is still the most effective way of locating missing people or people buried in avalanches. Sound detectors and other devices have a part to play, but are slow and cumbersome compared to "sniffer" dogs, Duffy said.

The investigation into Day's disappearance is ongoing and the DA's Office is still asking for the public's support.

A six-month extension has been granted on the $5,000 reward offered for information leading to the location of Danice Day.

Persons with any information may contact the DA at (719) 589-3691.

Posted by jacqui at 05:27 PM | Permalink

By Alamosa Valley Courier Staff

RIO GRANDE COUNTY - The District Attorney's office has gotten a six-month extension on the $5,000 reward offered for information leading to the location of Danice Day, DA Peter Comar said Thursday.

Day, the 19-year-old single mother of two children, was last seen Jan. 9 in Monte Vista. She is 5'5" tall, weighs about 105 pounds, has blonde hair and blue eyes, as well as pierced ears and a pierced left eyebrow.

She was wearing black Wrangler jeans and a white T-shirt when she left home, allegedly telling boyfriend Victor Braun that she was going out with friends.

Day left behind her car and cell phone, according to reports from the Monte Vista Police Department.

Comar and DA Investigator Shawn Woods said Thursday that the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has been in the area several times and is returning again this week to follow up on some new leads.

"Investigation is still ongoing, and we are still asking for the public's support," Woods said.

Comar said of his work with the CBI, "You go over it and start from ground zero and start over again. We are still very much actively involved and working on it."

Bloodhounds from the ALIE Foundation are also expected to visit the area.

Persons with info may call the DA at (719) 589-3691.

Posted by jacqui at 05:28 PM | Permalink