By Rocky Mountain News
January 24, 2006
Rio Grande sheriff's deputies are looking at the possibility that a woman who has been missing for four years this month may have been buried in the Monte Vista area, according to a news report.

Sheriff's investigators were digging in an area of the town, according to a report from 9News on Monday. Monte Vista lies between Del Norte and Alamosa in southern Colorado.

Danice Day was 20 years old when she disappeared Jan. 9, 2002. Day's common-law husband, Victor Braun, notified authorities that Day was missing. He last saw Day before she went out to meet with friends. Day, who is the mother of two small children, never returned home.

Family members said they believe Day was a victim of foul play because she never would have left her children at home, according to 9News.

Day is 5 feet, 5 inches tall and weighs 105 pounds. She has blond hair and blue eyes. Her left eyebrow and ears are pierced.

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Courtesy of Alamosa Valley Courier Online Edition

DEL NORTE — Rio Grande County Sheriff Brian Norton issued a comment Tuesday afternoon about a recent investigation of pro-perty in Monte Vista.
His statement follows:
“The continuing investigation into the case of Danice Day, who has been missing since Jan. 9, 2002, has led us to 1820 Grande Avenue in Monte Vista. It used to be a gas station and was recently torn down.
“Through investigation, we believed there could be evidence or clues to Danice Day’s disappearance in that area.
“The site was mapped out and target areas were identified. Those areas were excavated through the weekend.
“There was a bone believed to be from a joint located in a grease line below the ground surface, along with other items of interest and those items will be sent to C.B.I. for testing.
“I will not comment on all the items found until the testing is complete. (Unknown time frame when the testing will be completed.)
“Several agencies were involved in this recent activity, such as the: Alamosa Sheriff’s Office, Monte Vista Police Department, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Necro Search from Denver, Office of the Attorney General and Division of Wildlife.
“Even though we will no longer be on Main Street in view of the public, the investigation continues at the same pace as you have seen over the past few days.
“There are other areas of interest that we will be looking at in regards to this case.
“Again, we are asking that anyone who may think they know something or have heard something, even if they feel that it may make no difference, are encouraged to call the Rio Grande Sheriff’s Office at 657-4000 and speak with Sheriff Brian Norton or Captain Jon Gonzales. You may also call the District Attorney’s Office at 589-3725 and speak with Investigator Shawn Woods.”

Send us your comments about this article.
I hope they find that the bone was Danice's. Her killer has been able to continue on with his life, while her parents sit waiting for someone to find her. Her killer has been able to raise her child and even have more, while the people who love her have to wonder if they will ever know what really happened to her.
Thank you for running the story about Danice Day. I first heard about the disappearance of Danice in 2002, when I was in Del Norte for a high school reunion. Danice's case, or the lack of action on it at that point, always bothered me greatly. This past Monday evening, Danice's disappearance was mentioned on Denver television, of all places! In Tuesday morning's Rocky Mountain News, there was a story of the still-missing Danice. It sparked my interest again and I "Googled" Danice and found a website about her. It was heart-breaking. I am so glad that The Valley Courier has printed a follow-up story that could possibly have a final resolution of the mystery of Danice's disappearance. Thank you very much, Valley Courier, and may those who were responsible for Danice's death be swiftly brought to justice! More than likely, one of them will take the coward's way out and he'll do himself in, leaving the other one to fry alone. It's only my Opinion. Thanks again, Courier, for writing about Danice Day. Danice is Never Forgotten and she shall be Forever Young!
Caroleena Klein
Have the last four years i have prayed for the family of Danise Day, that some day they would be able to find there loved one and put her to rest in a peaceful place where she deserves to be. I have prayed that here killers will finally be put where they belong!!!!!
ann
I hope her killers will soon be revealed and be fried for there crime . I can not see how a person can do what they did to this young lady,her family and her children and so far has gotten away with it WHAT WENT WRONG????? A message for the family, "you are in our prayers everyday we pray for you that god may help heal your hearts and that your daughter will soon find rest " We feel so deeply for all of you" A message to her killers "HOW CAN YOU LIVE WITH YOURSELF?? YOU TOOK A BEAUTIFUL PERSON FROM HERE FAMILY, HER CHILDREN ALL WAS LOST WHEN YOU DID THIS.WORSE OF ALL YOU ACT LIKE NOTHING EVER HAPPENED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!God have mercy on your souls!!!!I am also glad that sheriff Brian Norton is in charge of this investagtion, now something will get done!!
Jhon
When Danice first was reported missing, why was it not investigated like it should have been. Sheriff Norton found the people that killed Brad Metzger, why didn't Sheriff Medina find Danice Day's killer? was it because Sheriff Medina did not investigate the situation more closely. There are a lot of questions that have not been answered as to why Sheriff Medina did not do certain things about this case. I also hope that the bone(s) they found were that of Danice, so that her family can have some closure and Danice rest in peace.

Posted by jacqui at 09:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

New search for Monte Vista mom bittersweet
Excavation turns up bone that may be from human

By Deborah Frazier, Rocky Mountain News
January 25, 2006
The family of a missing Monte Vista mother said Tuesday the renewed investigation that may have uncovered a bone from the woman was sad news and good news.

Danice Day, then 19, disappeared Jan. 9, 2002, leaving behind two young children.

"All weekend, we were on pins and needles," said Jacqui Flint, Day's sister who operates a Web site on her missing sister.

"I'm scared of what I feel when they find her, but I'm hopeful that they will finally find her," said Flint. "We're all hopeful they'll find her."

The downtown site of a former filling station was excavated, and a bone believed to be from a human joint was located, said Rio Grande County Sheriff Brian Norton.

Other items of interest were also located underground at the site and will be sent to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation for testing, he said.

Norton declined to discuss the other items that were found.

"We're very happy that they've renewed the search," said Jonene Day, Danice's mother.

"We were pretty disappointed by the way it was handled in the beginning," said Jonene Day. "No one bothered to look for her for several days."

At the time of her death, Danice Day was living with Victor Braun and they had a daughter, Kaylee, who is now 4, Jonene Day said.

Both Jonene Day and Flint said Danice Day had filed domestic abuse charges against Braun, moved out, reconciled and had resumed the relationship before her death.

Norton confirmed that Danice Day had filed a domestic violence complaint against Braun before her death. He said Braun was one of several people that would be interviewed as part of the investigation. Norton said Braun had been interviewed when Danice Day disappeared.

Jonene Day said she last saw her daughter on Christmas Day, 2001, when they both celebrated successful drug-rehabilitation programs and promised each other they would stay "clean and sober."

"She seemed happy, but my ex-husband (Danice's father, Rod Day) and her friends told me she was still being physically abused and wanted to leave," said Jonene Day.

"Her stuff was still at another apartment when she disappeared," said Flint.

Day vanished after her waitress shift at a Monte Vista restaurant ended Jan. 9, 2002. She left Kaylee and her son from another relationship at Braun's home along with her vehicle, wallet, cellular phone and clothing, said Jonene Day.

"She would never have left her children like that," said Jonene.

The empty lot that was excavated belonged to Braun's family and was sold in March 2002, the county assessor's office said.

Former Sheriff Desi Medina was a friend of Braun's father, Vernon Braun, and excused himself from the investigation because of the circumstances.

Victor Braun has custody of Kaylee, Norton said.

frazierd@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-892-5308

Posted by jacqui at 08:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Courtesy of Alamosa Valley Courier Online Edition
Tuesday, January 24, 2006

MONTE VISTA — The Rio Grande County Sheriff’s Department closed its investigation on the site of a former gas station at 1820 Grande in Monte Vista at about noon Monday.
Rio Grande County Sheriff Brian Norton told newspaper staff that a blackened joint bone found in a grease line over the weekend will be sent out for evaluation. It could take up to six months for results on the bone.
Some have said that the investigation has to do with the four-year-old missing person case of Danice Day.
The 20 year old mother of two was reported missing on Jan. 9, 2002 and has not yet been located. Norton would not confirm that his department’s search was tied to the case.
The sheriff’s department taped off the area of the newly cleared lot north of U.S. 160 mid-week. On Saturday, a tent was erected as excavation work continued. A back hoe was used Sunday.
The Monte Vista Police Department was on scene to offer assistance, but did not participate in the search. The Alamosa Sheriff’s Department set up a mobile emergency command post, which was gone by Sunday.
There have been other investigations during the past four years concerning Danice Day’s disappearance. Officers have dug for a body, used cadaver dogs and searched the San Juan Mountains, never finding anything.
The most recent investigation was on property that had once belonged to the family of Day’s boyfriend, Victor Braun.
The Rio Grande Tax Accessor’s office confirmed the property was sold in March 2002 to Michael H. and Linda Trujillo.
Four years ago, Danice Day left her job in Monte Vista for her home in Lariat.
According to a statement made by former sheriff J. Desi Medina at a Rio Grande County Com-missioners open meeting on Feb. 27, 2002, when Day arrived at the home she shared with Braun, she told Braun she was leaving him and he struck her, killing her.
Sheriff Norton has stated when Day arrived home she told Braun she was going out with a friend. Reportedly the friend picked her up and she has not been heard from since.
Despite reports that Norton was prepared to make a public statement Monday, information received from the sheriff’s staff at 5:45 p.m. indicated that he was not yet ready to make that statement. Queries were being transferred to his voice mail.

Community Comments
The comment by Desi "Four years ago, Danice Day left her job in Monte Vista for her home in Lariat. According to a statement made by former sheriff J. Desi Medina at a Rio Grande County Com-missioners open meeting on Feb. 27, 2002, when Day arrived at the home she shared with Braun, she told Braun she was leaving him and he struck her, killing her." Then why didn't he arrest Braun? something is very strange here.
i hope they do find that this bone is from danise day. her parents have suffered 4 long agonizing years. she was their only daughter and it is only right that justice for danise is served. god bless her family.
Someone should put this case on one of those detective shows on tv. They will find her and her killer.
Nothing strange about Desi Medina. Everyone has a right to excercise their indescretions and stroke their ego and repent later. Sheriff Medina is only human, or at least that's the way I remember him. Law enforcement is an overwhelmingly difficult job that the everyday person can't begin to fathom. Rio Grande county despritely needs a Civilian Academy first, to educate Joe Citizen, second to provide support to the departments in their jurisdiction. These deputies and officers work a thankless job and are given little support and always fight the tight budgets that accompany rural areas. When a case like the Day case breaks, the community is outraged by the lack of expertise. Quit bitching, donate money, organize a citizen's academy. It ain't like you see on CSI folks. Cases like these take time. I'd ought to know. I were one.
Trout
hello, i have a comment. I think they should question Victor Brauns dad, Vern Braun. I bet they both had something to do with it, thats probably why they sold the gas station on grand ave. Ive heard stories from someone about what happened to danice day from Cindy who works at the comfort inn in monte vista. I think its a real mystery, and you can believe what people say, but you never know if its the truth or not.
will
I have been wondering why Veron Braun and his son have not been arrested, everyone knows they had something to do with her missing? I wonder how they can live with what they did.

Posted by jacqui at 08:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Danice Day Went Missing In 2002
Wayne Harrison, Senior News Editor

POSTED: 4:49 am MST January 24, 2006
UPDATED: 7:55 am MST January 25, 2006

Email This Story | Print This Story
MONTE VISTA, Colo. -- The discovery of a bone fragment has renewed the search for a waitress who has been missing for four years in the San Luis Valley.

Danice Lea Day was 19 at the time she vanished near Monte Vista on Jan. 9, 2002.

According to a statement made by former sheriff J. Desi Medina at a Rio Grande County Commissioners open meeting on Feb. 27, 2002, when Day arrived at the home she shared with Victor Braun, she told Braun she was leaving him and he struck her, killing her. Despite that statement, Braun was never arrested or charged in the case.

"It was just two old farts talking to each other," Medina said after the commisioners' meeting. He said he thought he was talking with the commissioners off-the-record. "I said it in confidence as to how I think he did it, not in the capacity of sheriff."

Medina told commissioners he had a relationship with Braun's father and turned the investigation over to other department officials, but the district attorney's office took over jurisdiction in the investigation and requested all files on the case.

Relatives believe Day was murdered, because she would have never left her two children behind.

The discovery of the bone in a grease line at the site of a former gas station has renewed the investigation. Braun's father reportedly owned the gas station.

Last week, investigators used ground-penetrating radar to see if anything was buried at the site just north of Monte Vista. Authorities erected a tent, and dug at the location around the clock for several days. A backhoe was brought in, and a large hole was excavated. Dogs from Necro-Search in Montrose were called in to aide in the investigation and the work was completed Monday.

Officials denied a published report that the bone found was a human joint bone. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation is assisting the sheriff's office in the investigation.

"Several items found during the excavation were sent to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation labs for identification and testing," said Capt. John Gonzales, "and it could take up to six months" to get results.

Gonzales said it was too early to tell if the bone that was found was human. He told the Meander Magazine that "possibly other places, and possibly out of state" were also part of the investigation.

Day, a single mother of two children, worked at the Dos Rios restaurant in Monte Vista when she disappeared. A $10,000 reward has been offered for information in the case

Posted by jacqui at 08:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)