| Danice Day has been missing since January 9, 2002.
Danice, the loving mother of two young children disappeared from Monte
Vista, Colorado over a year ago.
Danice's case is under investigation by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. Her family is searching for the answers regarding what really happened to her and they truly believe someone out there has them. This site is dedicated to Danice Day and contains media stories, reward fund information, personal stories and pictures from her family. |
Danice of a Thousand Days
Dear Family and Friends,
According to my calendar, our beautiful daughter Danice will be gone for us 1000 days on October 4th this year. Danice has been, and continues to be, sorely missed. One thousand days may not seem all that long if she is not your child or unless you hold some form of guilt in conjuction with her "disappearance."
Danice enjoyed life! She enjoyed special occasions that most of us take for granted. Consider this, since January 9, 2002, Danice has missed:
3 of her birthdays
3 of her baby's birthdays
3 of each of her parents birthdays
3 Mother's Days
3 Father's Days
3 Easters
2 Thanksgivings
2 Christmas
and 2 New Year's
Many of you can relate to just how difficult these occasions can be in the shadow of tragedy. We realize we are not the only ones in this valley that have suffered hardship due to the loss of a loved one. Tragedy has stricken many of you reading this---and our hearts and our prayers go out to you!
We just want to thank all of you who have put Danice in your prayers and kept her in your thoughts. We ask that you continue to pray for Danice, her babies (Joshua and Kaylie) and her family. We also ask that you continue to pray for the investigators that they do not forget that this case is still unsolved. We especially ask that everyone continue to include in your prayers, a request for those who know something concerning Danice's disappearance---to please come forward---so we can know the truth as to what has happened to our little girl.
It goes without saying---our little girl is still missed very much! And we (all) love her.
This case is not cold! We have not-and will not-forget! The reward for voluntary information leading to Danice-or a criminal conviction is $10,000.
Lovingly,
Rod and Judy Day
Del Norte
I sat on the bus thinking about everything I have to do. I looked over my list for the upteenth time that day. My list of things to do seems to get longer every day. I try to fill each minute of the day with a task, mindless or not. I have to keep going. I tell myself not to stop until it is time for bed. I wake before the sun rises and go to bed past the 11:00 news. In the last year I changed careers and made it through graduate school. My list of things to do seems to change on a consistent basis. I am usually able to scratch everything off and start a new list. One item that seems to transfer from list to list is "update website-write about Danice." It is written exactly in those words, dash and all.
I sit and reflect on why this item has stayed on that list so long and I realize it is because I do not know what to write. I do not know how to express sadness so I choose to forget that it exists. It seems that I can deal with everything in my life, but the loss of my sister. I am good at staying busy so I can avoid any feelings I might have about my sister being gone.
I try to remember what Danice looked like the last time I saw her and I see her smile. Sometimes I have dreams that she is coming back. It seems that writing her name too many times makes it apparent that her disappearance is real. It is hard to believe that after two and a half years, I have not faced that yet. I am not sure I ever will. When I see her name written down, it is there to look at over and over. Thoughts and sadness are easier to cross out.
Finding Danice is not something I can cross off my list of things to do. That fact is not something I can control. I can only think about how much I miss her. I can only think about how my family lost a sister, daughter, granddaughter, cousin, and niece two years ago. I can only think about how much I miss her. I can only guess how long I will stay busy and keep my mind occupied in order to avoid tears and thoughts of an ambiguous loss.
Missing woman honored with launch $10,000 offered in Day Investigation
;)
;)
Monte Vista-Under bright sunny skies last Saturday a crowd gathered at the Movie Manor to remember missing Monte vista resident Danice Day.
In a moving address to those who attended, father Rod Day tearfully acknowledged that it had been "two full calendar years that Danice has been missing and two years that we have no answers for her babies."
A photo of Day and her two children stood on a table surrounded by cookies and hot chocolate. Friends gathered in her memory.
Pastor Steve Shown shared a prayer for Day and her family and said, "Danice is reaching out today and wherever she is her blood cried out for justice. Just as Cain slew Abel, and his blood cried out, Danice is calling out to us."
Shown said, "I also believe God is asking us to forgive. Forgiveness isn't easy, but it's necessary in the healing process. I believe there is a season for everything, and I believe it's a season for both justice and forgiveness."
A song by Shown's wife Jolynn, which she sang and signed in American Sign Language, touched the crowd, as tears fell silently.
Day and his wife Judy told everyone how much they appreciated the support, but said, "This doesn't get easier." He said that he and his family have been assured that new leads are showing up daily, and the new evidence is hopeful.
Days said, "Today we voice a plea for help. There may be those who know something or have information. We are begging you to come forward so we can have peace and answers for her children whey they ask what happened their mommy."
Day went on to ask," reach inside yourself and ask yourself what would you do if it were your child. We need answers. We need closure. I want to bury my daughter with the respect she deserves."
A large trailer held 730 helium filled yellow and black balloons, one for each day she has been missing. Day explained the colors. "Black represents the worst of our suspicions, that we mourn our loss, and yellow is for hope-hope that someone will come forward today. Judy and I feel that yellow is the most powerful color to describe Danice. She was a soldier who fought a hard fight, and we believe she fought to the end."
Before the balloons were launched, Day asked Sheriff Brian Norton and Chief Investigator Shawn Woods to come forward.
"I believe that money talks, and today, we are adding $5,000 more to the foundation on behalf of Danice," Day said.
As the music played softly in the background, 730 balloons were released to the sunny skies, a message to Danice that she hasn't been forgotten.
Dear Danice,
Another year has passed since you have been gone. I thought it would be easiest to write you to you this year. It still isn't easy to talk about without tears. I saw one of your old friends over the Christmas break. We talked about you most of the time and how much we missed you. I couldn't help wishing you were right there, able to just hang out and talk about your life the same as us.
The family had a memorial for you a couple days after Christmas. It was really a celebration of your life. It seems as though we all had different memories of you to contribute. Some of the stories were new to me. Every time I hear something new about your life it makes me think that maybe I didn't know you well enough. Then the guilt comes up and my throat starts to tighten. I realize I could have never known every little thing about the real you and I shouldn't feel guilty, but that doesn't make it any easier. I thought about how I didn't have any friends my own age growing up, but I had you. You were always by my side.
Most of the time I just miss talking to you. When I was cleaning out my CD collection the other day, I thought about your Beatles obsession. I remember when you painted your dresser with an all Beatles theme. One drawer was John, the other Paul, next Ringo and the last drawer, George. You know, I still have your Magical Mystery Tour CD. I stole it from you along with that Pearl Jam CD I had given to you as a gift. Just minor details in the parts of life I can't share with you anymore. I am not sure I ever did anyway.
All these small parts of your life come up in my mind on a daily basis. Every day I think of something you did. Sometimes, all of the sudden I will see one of your facial expressions in my mind and it tears me apart so I try to erase it as soon and possible. It all makes me sad and it doesn't become easier after two years. I don't think I ever thought it would be two years when I first received news of your disappearance.
Whenever I think of you, these lyrics come to mind because every word of it is true. I play it all the time because it symbolizes just about everything about your absence:
Goodbye
Occurred to me the other day
You been gone a couple years
Well I guess it takes a while
For someone to really disappear
And I remember where I was
When the word came about you
It was a day much like today
The sky was wide and bright and blue
And I wonder where you are
And if the pain ends when you die
And I wonder if there was
Some better way to say goodbye
Today my hear is big and sore
Trying to push right through my skin
Won't see you any more
I guess that's finally sinking in
Cause you can't make somebody see
With the simple words you say
All the beauty from within
Sometimes they just look away
And I wonder where you are
And if the pain ends when you die
And I wonder if there was
Some better way to say goodbye
Some better way to say goodbye
Someday I hope we do have a better way to say goodbye, a justified way. I love you Danice and I am thinking of you today and every day.
Your sister,
Jacqui
Dear Friends and Family,
This Friday, January 9 marks the two-year anniversary of Danice Day's disappearance: That's two years of tears; two years of regret, anger and emptiness; two yers in which two innocent babies have been without their loving mother.
The past year we have been working on getting Danice's name and the circumstances of her case noticed and acknowledged. Her siste, Jacqui, ran in the New York City marathon in honor of her little sister and managed to gather over $1000 in donations for the Carol Sund/Carrington Foundation.
I did a taped interview with Paula Woodward of Denver 9News recently, and the TV crew will soon be putting together a feature on Danice's case. Hope this makes a couple of people sweat.
Once again this year, I am asking everyone reading this to light a candle or say a short prayer for our girl and for her babies.
My deepest gratitude goes to all those who, during the past year have written, donated and prayed for us.
With thanks and love,
Jonene Day (Danice's Mom)
I completed the New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 2. I finished with a time of 3 hours and forty-three minutes. For more details on my race time please use the tracker at www.ingnycmarathon.org. It was very exciting and inspirational to be a part of this exciting event. Not only was it inspirational, but also thinking of the reason I was running it made me strive harder. At any point of exhaustion and soreness, all I did was think of Danice and I knew I had to keep pushing. Again, thanks to everyone who came out and cheered. Thanks also to all of you at home who cheered for me from the TV or Internet. All your support meant the world to me.
Sincerely,
Jacqui Flint
I just want to thank everyone who has supported me in this important fundraiser for the Carole Sund/Carrington Memorial Reward Foundation. In the past three months I have raised over $1,000.00 dollars. Some of the donations were definitely least expected, but greatly appreciated.
Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers this coming Sunday, November 2 as I take part in the New York City Marathon. I am looking forward to a great race. For more information on starting times, please go to www.ingnycmarathon.org. You will be able to find my results here the evening of the race, but I will also be posting it on the website a couple of days after.
Thanks again! Your help is greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Jacqui Flint
Dear Friends and Family,
Many of you have been very supportive in the past year and a half as my family and I have dealt with the horrible tragedy of my little sister"s disappearance. While there is still no new news, my family and I keep hope alive that this case will be solved.
You may also know that Danice"s case has been part of the Carole Sund/Carrington Memorial Reward Foundation. This Reward fund was established after the 1999 disappearance of Carole and Juli Sund and Silvina Pelosso in Yosemite National Park. The fund strives to turn their tragedy into triumph for other families. It has been established to provide resources to families without the economic means to offer rewards for information to help law enforcement officials locate missing loved ones and bring violent criminals to justice. Please see the enclosed pamphlet or go to www.carolesundfoundation.com for more information.
This fund has posted a reward of $5,000 dollars for my sister's safe return. Now, I would like to give something back to the foundation. On November 2, 2003, I will run the New York City Marathon in Danice"s memory. I am asking for donations in hopes of raising money for the Carole Sund/Carrington Memorial Reward Foundation. I don"t have a set amount I must raise, I just ask that you give as much as you can afford. Alternately, you can give a certain amount for each mile (i.e a dollar a mile).
Each step of this 26.2 mile stretch will be a reminder of the many families who have lost loved ones due to tragedy. All checks can be made to: Carole Sund Reward Fund and mailed to the following address:
Jacqui Flint
65 West 106th Street 4B
New York, NY 10025
Your donation will be greatly appreciated and I will continually update you on my progress. If you have any questions, please don"t hesitate to call me at (917)447-2535 or write to me at jacquiflint@hotmail.com.
Sincerely,
Jacqui Flint
Justice for Danice Day is Long Overdue Says Family
Monte Vista- At a local restaurant in Monte vista, an elderly woman sat at her favorite table waiting for her special waitress.
"I wonder what happened to her," she said, looking wistfully at the picture of a beautiful young girl. "I wonder where she's at today?"
Her daughter held her hand, knowing the sadness she felt for her missing young friend. It has been 555 days since Danice Day has been home, since her two small children have been without their mother and no answers for her grieving family.
Eighteen months ago, Day disappeared from her home in Monte Vista. Foul play was suspected but nothing has been proven; questions remain.
In an interview last week, Rio Grande County Sheriff Brian Norton said that his case has been very tough for him.
"I came on a year after the investigation had begun and have spent many hours making sure I have all the information I need to continue," he said.
Norton said he is very anxious to solve this case and get answers for the Day family. He pointed to notebooks and binders full of information on the missing young woman and spoke candidly about his desire to assist in any way possible.
"I have offered to get a Danice Day task force operating, as well as organize with the search and rescue a volunteer effort, starting at the road and working our way up the mountain. I'm just waiting for the word," he said.
Norton said he feels like he is in the middle of a slow moving train when it comes to describing the case.
"I can't push the engine any faster than it's going," he said.
With sadness and frustration, he said that he has a hard time talking to the Day family every week and not have any news or information.
Norton said that a task force consisting of him, the D.A.'s office, the Attorney General and Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will get together as soon as possible to discuss strategy and move forward.
District Attorney Pete Comar said last Thursday that the newly formed task force will start at ground zero to see if anything has been missed or over-looked.
"We have put an enormous amount of time and effort in trying to solve this case," said Comar.
Shawn Woods, investigator for the district attorney's office, said that he has been aggressively involved in this case and works on it daily.
"At this point, we are waiting for all the documents that have been generated in this case so we can go over them and make sure we have all the information that is available," he said.
Woods stated that he spends a lot of his own time working on the case and has taken search dogs out looking for Day.
"I want very badly to solve t his case for Rod Day and his family," he said. "We need to get his case out in the public again. We need to get people thinking about Danice."
Being reminded of Danice's disappearance is not hard for family. Surrounded in his office at work by pictures of his only child, Rod Day said last Thursday that he thinks of his daughter "all the time."
As his eyes filled with tears, he said he can't help wishing for an answer.
"I guess I'm just an impatient father who just wants closure," he said.
Rod Day is hesitant to voice his disappointment with the case. When asked how long it has been since he saw Danice, he picked up a calendar from his desk and said "555 days, 79 weeks, or one week shy of eighteen months."
Day said that Norton is very aggressive and intense and is thankful for his persistence. He noted as well Woods has worked very hard.
"They are doing the best they can, given the circumstances," he said. "I don't have much contact with the CBI, I'm not sure what is going on there."
With the four agencies working together, Rod Day is hoping for that one break that will give his family closure.
We just want to know what happened to her and see that justice is done," he said.
For now the elderly woman sits at the table and waits for Danice to serve her food. Like others, she hopes for justice and closure in the case.
Birthday Remembrance
Dearest Danice,
Today would have been your 21st Birthday. How we would have loved to celebrate it with you. Never a day goes by that we don't think of you and things you did when you were a little girl.
I remember the day you were born. We were so thrilled to have another beautiful, bright, happy little girl in the family. We were so proud of you when you graduated from High School and you shared your dreams of going to beauty school and I was so excited and encouraged you to let nothing stop you. Unfortunately someone did!!!
Was it control, jealousy, or envy that led to someone making sure that your goals were never realized. You also shared your goals for your two precious babies whom you loved so much. The desire to raise them to be fine people, someone also put a stop to that dream!!!
My darling granddaughter, I think of you today especially, I love you and I pray that the people responsible for all of this sorrow will someday be brought to justice. I am reminded of a verse in Romans which says "So then each one of us shall give account of himself to God." -Romans 14:12. What account can they give???
We love you and miss you so much.
Happy birthday!!
Gram and Grandad
Birthday Remembrance
I followed the Laci Peterson story very closely. When the New York Post showed a large photo of Scott Peterson in his orange jumpsuit, being transported to jail, they showed a small picture of Laci in a silhouetted oval shape in the corner. The headline read "MONSTER." Laci had a big smile on her face in the inset photo (as she seemed to in most pictures the media has shown the audience). I know this was typical tabloid sensationalism, but it was still very disturbing to observe. I couldn't help relating this story to Danice's. I wondered if my family and I will ever see her assailant in an orange jumpsuit. I am not a malicious person, but I hope so.
When a case such as Laci's is solved, it only makes me more impatient and, as I have expressed before, more frustrated. In following the Laci Peterson closely throughout those six months, I had mixed emotions. The day investigators found her body, my heart sank and I wanted to cry. I watched as her mother cried during a press conference, as she said she will never get to hug her daughter again. I knew how she felt and I am very sure my mom knows how she felt. The last time I was home, my mom approached me for a hug and I could tell she was dismayed as I unconsciously pulled away. My mom said, "I lost my hugger." Danice was always the best at good, hard, gut squeezing hugs. It must have been because she had so much love in her heart.
As a couple of days transpired, it seemed that every news magazine and TV show in the country told of something relating to Laci Peterson. I felt a little bit of anger on behalf of her family. I am not sure the murder of an innocent young woman should be considered fodder for the Enquirer. In that vain, I am somewhat glad Danice's case has not gained that kind of national attention.
By the same token, I couldn't help feeling somewhat slighted at the lack of press coverage for my sister's case. I have heard (but don't always believe), from the people in the media I tried to contact that "there are so many missing persons cases out there, we could never cover all of them" or from a particular news station in Denver, "if we covered every missing person's case, our whole news cast would be about missing persons." When I wrote to America's Most Wanted, they rejected the story as well. I guess this was because Danice was not really a child, and she was a teen mother, so maybe the public wouldn't find the story appealing. I often find myself saying, "How come they can solve other cases?" or "Why wouldn't they cover my sister's case the way they covered Laci's?"
I am well aware this isn't about whose case is getting more coverage, it is about human life. I certainly would never want Danice's story to be exploited the way I feel Laci's has. Danice's story might not be so appealing because there is no climax and we don't know when there will be an ending. There hasn't been any evidence since it happened, so there is never anything new to report. That is the simple truth and that is why it is so hard to deal with.
I feel a sense of relief for Laci's family. I know they have experienced terrible sorrow, so maybe that sounds strange. There will never be any sort of ending to the pain they feel with Laci gone, but perhaps knowing she is really dead will allow them to mourn justifiably. On May 4th, her family held a memorial service for her. It was her birthday. I am glad they termed this service a celebration of her life. I want our family to be able to do the same for Danice at some point.
In much the same way I believe there's a reason that Laci left a mourning family behind, I strongly feel that there is a reason Danice left us too. Perhaps that reason will not become clear for a very long time, but God knows, and I keep that close to my heart in times of despair. It isn't as if no one in my family is ever not sad and we are trying as best we can to move on in our lives, but there is always something missing in our hearts.
May 8th is Danice's birthday. It really isn't different than any other day because we think about her in a special way every day. Danice gave birth to two special children before she left this world. Josh turned four in April and her daughter will turn two on the same day as Danice would have turned 21. Happy Birthday Danice and Kaylie!
FACE TO FACE
Dearest daughter Danice,
Sorry it has been so long since I last wrote. It"s just that we had hoped there would be some closure by now. We have passed 60 weeks/ 420 days.
The Candlelight Vigil we had on the anniversary of your disappearance went well. You would have been proud to see the many friends that were there to remember you and to pray for you, your babies, and your family.
I know of at least one person very close to the "suspect" group that was there. This person was actually crying. Can you imagine? This person was standing in front of me Ð crying Ð and probably knowing full well the truth as to what has actually happened to you. This person stated to me that "There is not a day goes by that I don"t think about you guys and Danice". I didn"t recognize this person Ð so I asked for their name Ð no response. I have since figured out who this person is.
I have mixed emotions about this. I am angry because I stood face-to-face with someone who probably knows Ð and yet refuses to tell. Then, on the other hand, I feel pity for this person.
How can anyone think so little of themselves? No pride whatsoever! Is this person actually fearing for his/her own life? What a sad way for one to go through life: afraid to speak the truth, afraid to be without mind altering "substance", seldom allowed to be alone, and most of all, so cold and uncaring that two little babies are left without knowing their mother or what has happened to her.
So I say this to that person:
God tells me "to forgive" Ð not yet!
God tells me that "vengeance is His" Ð well, O.K.
I would have never thought that anyone else could be as "gutless" as those who have hurt my little girl. I hope that this person walks with his/her head up high Ð proud of how he/she has helped "pull this off". If this person has children Ð I"ll bet that one day his/her children will be bragging to their friends about how "their Dad/Mom" was so strong and able to help cover up a crime for such a long period of time. (I not only pity this person Ð I feel sorry for them!)
I"m sorry, Danice Ð I drifted off again. The fact remains Ð we all still miss you and love you! Your babies are well and miss their Mom.
I had better go now Ð I need to speak to God. I need to pray for that person"s soul. I love you. Your family loves you.
Dad
Rod Day
Del Norte
Am I Angry? - YES!!
Dearest Daughter Danice,
I am sorry that it has been so long since I last wrote. By the time this is printed (provided it is printed), we will have reached 59 weeks (413 days) that you have been gone. I seem to be having trouble writing "politically correct" or "investigative correct" letters that won"t hurt someone"s feelings or, supposedly, get someone hurt. I guess the hurt that I and your family go through daily is not as important as stroking the egos of those who have hurt you and left your babies without their Mom.
Speaking of babies Ð Joshua is doing fine and Kaylie seemed okay the last time we saw her.
>From what I hear, Kaylie is going to have a new baby brother or sister. Boy, Kaylie"s dad is quite the man. "Love Ôem and leave Ôem" used to be the old saying among the "stud" bachelors. But, in this case, it appears to be more like "Love Ôem and dispose of Ôem". (Dear God Ð I hope there"s not a pattern forming here). How many times, Danice, did you drop, or refuse to file, domestic violence charges on that boy?
I understand that this girls" parents are in denial just as I was. My heart goes out to them. I just hope her parents take the "blinders" off when all the "tell-tale" signs begin showing up (ie: bruises on the arm, marks around the eyes, and yes, even the reports of being "accidentally" kicked in the stomach while pregnant). Of course, the boy is being "Mr. Wonderful" right now. I remember, not too long ago, how you were telling me how great he is. But you won"t tell me that now Ð you CAN"T tell me that now.
Am I angry? Ð Yes.
I haven"t hurt anybody. Well, except maybe those closest to me who watch me go through this every day because I am so preoccupied with the "wrongness" and "unfairness" of what has happened. (The Ôcommittee of They" tell me I should be over the anger stage Ð Not a chance!)
God tells me to "forgive" Ð not yet!
God tells me "Vengeance is His" Ð well, O.K.
But know this, Danice, - those who have hurt you are like an organ with a malignant tumor and sometimes the organ has to be removed to get rid of the malignancy. (And it will happen Ð the investigators promise me this).
I Love You, Kiddo!!
Dad
Danice Day Remembered at Del Norte candlelight vigil: Several attend even after one year missing
Alamosa Valley Courier
DEL NORTE- On the one-year anniversary of his daughter's disappearance, Rody Day stood on his front porch, choked back his tears and addressed the candle-carrying crowd gathered before him.
"After one year we still don't know where our daughter is," he continued. "Sadly, only God and a handful of people know the truth about what happened that night. That's what we're here for-the truth."
Day made his comments during a candlelight vigil held last Thursday to remember his daughter, Danice Day, a 19-year-old Monte Vista woman who vanished January 9, 2002. Several dozen people attended the event, which took place shortly after sunset at the Day residence, 465 4th St.
"We thank you for your prayers and support, not just for Danice and her family but for the investigating force and also the people who have information and may come forward to help us put Danice to rest," Day sad.
Kari Chacon and Kary Snyder, who knew Day, wore T-shirts commemorating their friend's disappearance. They were heartened by the turnout for the vigil.
"It's good to know she was loved by so many people," Chacon, 22, said.
Chacon and Snyder both said the last year has been difficult for everyong who knew Day. "It's been frustrating, always wondering what happened," Snyder, 24, said.
On the day she disappeared, Day, a mother of two allegedly told her boyfriend she was going out, but did not say with whom. Her cell phone and car were left behind.
Day's disappearance is features on several Web sites dedicated to the recovery of missing children and endangered missing adults. Among the sites:
Danice Day:
http://www.daniceday.com
The Nation's Missing Children Organization and Center for Missing Adults:
http://www.nmco.or/gallery/ma/index-d.html.
The district attorney's office in Alamosa continues to investigate Day's disappearance. A $5,000 reward is offered for information leading to Day¹s discovery.
Anyone with information about the case should call investigators at (719)589-3715 or write to Shawn Woods, Chief Criminal Investigator for the district attorney, at PO Box 231, Alamosa, CO 81101. The identity of any informants will be kept confidential.
Day is 5'5" tall, weighs 105 pounds. She has blonde hair and blue eyes and her ears and left eyebrow are pierced. She was wearing black Wrangler jeans and a white T-shirt when last seen.
Letter to the Editor
Alamosa Valley Courier
To the Editor:
January 9, 2003 marks the one-year anniversary of Danice Day's disappearance. Danice, the mother of two children, was a resident of Monte Vista. I would like to thake this time to remind the public that the case is still open.
In Danice's memory, an informational website regarding the case has been created. The site includes reward information, pictures, news articles, and personal essays regarding her case. This website can be accessed at www.daniceday.com. Even though there have been no new developments of late regarding the case, my family and I hope that the local media will not lose interest because a full year has passed.
No matter how long it takes, investigators will still be looking for new leads and evidence regarding her disappearance. My family and I have faith that someday this case will be brought to justice.
Thank you to everyone who has shown support in the last year. Special thanks to the investigators who continue to look for evidence. We can only hope that a new year will shed new light on this case.
Sincerely,
Jacqui Flint
New York, NY
Alamosa Valley Courier
To the Editor:
I'm writing in the hope that people in your area will remember my daughter, Danice Day, who "disappeared" on January 9, 2002. Your remembrance and prayers for her would be appreciated. If anyone has any information or comments you can e-mail me at jonene752@yahoo.com.
Thank you,
Jonene Day
Cheyenne, WY
Anniversary Candlelight Vigil in Danice's Memory
To all family and friends:
A special candlelight vigil will be held on Thursday, January 9, 2003 in Danice's memory. At approximately 5:30 pm Mountain Standard Time, no matter where you are - please light a candle and say a prayer for Danice.
A year, still no answers
The other day, I received an email from a stranger. The stranger claimed that he knew where my sister was and that he knew people who had seen her. If I was interested in his help I could email him. At first I wanted to believe this stranger. When someone is missing, it is easy to grasp onto anything, anything that will help to keep hope alive. After realizing it was just a scam artist probably looking to make money off someone else's grief, I was angry.
My anger was directed not only at the scam-artist, but I realized I am angry at what has transpired this past year. As of January 9, 2003, Danice has been missing for a full year. I am angry because someone took her away. This anger is coupled with frustration. I am frustrated because there are still no new leads, no new evidence; even the rumors about how she disappeared have subsided. Whoever took this wonderful sister, mother, daughter, granddaughter from our family is free.
Anger and frustration are just a minute part of the wave of emotions that have hit me in the past year. While the anger seems like something I can control, the sadness I feel comes without warning. It is hard to control a feeling that is always lying right there in your heart. It is hard to walk down the street and find yourself bursting into tears and wondering when the pain will stop. It is such a mysterious loss that often I find myself wondering what to feel at all. There are other days when I am in denial and just want to ignore that this tragedy is real. The whole experience just seems too surreal to fathom.
Some nights Danice appears in my dreams. The latest dream was Danice walking in the forest. There was a slight breeze running through her blonde hair. Her slender body moved gracefully through the trees. The only problem was that she couldn't escape. Significant in her life I suppose. She loved her two children and would have done anything for them, but there were other things in her life she wanted to escape.
As I look back on my journal entries from the past year, I realize that every day Danice's name is written somewhere. Mostly I just wrote, "I miss Danice!" I will continue to write this because it helps. My whole family misses Danice. My whole family wonders what really happened to her. Sometimes I'm ashamed to say, I get tired, tired of thinking about her absence, tired of feeling guilty about the things I should have said, and tired of wondering when some kind of evidence will appear and help investigators with her case. I realize I am being selfish because this isn't about me, but it is about a young life cut short with no explanation.
I know I am going through the normal cycle of mourning. Then again, I believe that it is hard to mourn someone's death when it is still such a mystery. I look forward to the day when I get a call from investigators and they announce, "We found her." Perhaps, that is the day that the real mourning can begin. I have faith that no matter how long it takes, the investigators will keep this case open and someday the anger and frustration I feel will subside. For now, it is just an inconspicuous loss for which I am not sure how to grieve. My family and I can only pray that a new year will bring new answers.
P u b l i c h e l p s o u g h t i n D a n i c e D a y c a s e
M O N T E V I S T A - T h e D i s t r i c t A t t o r n e y ' s O f f i c e i s a s k i n g f o r t h e p u b l i c ' s s u p p o r t i n f i n d i n g D a n i c e D a y , a 1 9 - y e a r - o l d m o t h e r o f t w o c h i l d r e n w h o w a s l a s t s e e n J a n . 9 , 2 0 0 2 i n M o n t e V i s t a .
D a n i c e i s 5 ' 5 " t a l l , w e i g h s a b o u t 1 0 5 p o u n d s , h a s b l o n d e h a i r a n d b l u e e y e s , a s w e l l a s p i e r c e d e a r s a n d a p i e r c e d l e f t e y e b r o w .
W h e n l a s t s e e n , s h e w a s w e a r i n g b l a c k W r a n g l e r j e a n s a n d a w h i t e T - s h i r t . A l l e g e d l y t e l l i n g b o y f r i e n d V i c t o r B r a u n t h a t s h e w a s g o i n g o u t w i t h f r i e n d s , b u t n o t r e v e a l i n g w h o , D a y l e f t b e h i n d h e r c a r a n d c e l l p h o n e .
A s i x - m o n t h e x t e n s i o n h a s b e e n g r a n t e d o n t h e $ 5 , 0 0 0 r e w a r d o f f e r e d f o r i n f o r m a t i o n l e a d i n g t o t h e l o c a t i o n o f D a y .
P e r s o n s w i t h a n y i n f o m a y c o n t a c t t h e D A a t ( 7 1 9 ) 5 8 9 - 3 6 9 1 o r w r i t e : P . O . B o x 2 3 1 , A l a m o s a , C O 8 1 1 0 1 . C o n f i d e n t i a l i t y i s a s s u r e d . C a l l e r s c a n a l s o c h o o s e t o r e m a i n a n o n y m o u s .
A Letter to Danice
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.
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
C B I s t i l l o n D a y ' s t r a i l
R I O G R A N D E C O U N T Y - C o l o r a d o B u r e a u o f I n v e s t i g a t i o n ( C B I ) w a s i n t h e V a l l e y o v e r t h e w e e k e n d f o l l o w i n g u p n e w l e a d s i n t h e D a n i c e D a y c a s e .
T h e 1 9 - y e a r - o l d m o t h e r o f t w o c h i l d r e n w a s l a s t s e e n J a n u a r y 9 i n M o n t e V i s t a . D a y l e f t h o m e , a l l e g e d l y t e l l i n g b o y f r i e n d V i c t o r B r a u n t h a t s h e w a s g o i n g o u t w i t h f r i e n d s . S h e l e f t b e h i n d h e r c a r a n d c e l l p h o n e .
D A ' s I n v e s t i g a t o r S h a w n W o o d s a n d C B I i n v e s t i g a t o r s v i s i t e d v a r i o u s l o c a t i o n s i n t h e V a l l e y w i t h s p e c i a l t r a c k i n g b l o o d h o u n d s s u p p l i e d b y A l l e n D u f f y , o w n e r o f B l o o d h o u n d I n v e s t i g a t i o n s o f D e n v e r .
" W e a r e i n v e s t i g a t i n g e v e r y l e a d , " s a i d W o o d s . A l l e n D u f f y b e c a m e i n v o l v e d w i t h t r a c k i n g d o g s a b o u t 1 5 y e a r s a g o w h e n h i s o w n b r o t h e r d i s a p p e a r e d a n d w a s l a t e r f o u n d m u r d e r e d i n c o l d b l o o d .
S a i d D u f f y , " H e j u s t w a s i n t h e w r o n g p l a c e a t t h e w r o n g t i m e a n d i t c o s t h i m h i s l i f e . I f t h e y h a d u s e d b l o o d h o u n d s a t t h a t t i m e , t h e y w o u l d h a v e f o u n d m y b r o t h e r s o o n e r a n d s a v e d o u r f a m i l y a l o t o f g r i e f . "
D u f f y a n d h i s b l o o d h o u n d s h a v e w o r k e d c a s e s a s l o n g a s n i n e t o 1 2 m o n t h s a f t e r a d i s a p p e a r a n c e .
A b l o o d h o u n d ' s s e n s e o f s m e l l i s s o i n c r e d i b l y s e n s i t i v e a n d a c c u r a t e t h a t i t h a s t h e d i s t i n c t i o n o f b e i n g t h e o n l y a n i m a l w h o s e ' t e s t i m o n y ' c a n b e u s e d a s e v i d e n c e i n U n i t e d S t a t e s c o u r t s .
T h e d o g ' s s e n s e o f s m e l l i s s t i l l t h e m o s t e f f e c t i v e w a y o f l o c a t i n g m i s s i n g p e o p l e o r p e o p l e b u r i e d i n a v a l a n c h e s . S o u n d d e t e c t o r s a n d o t h e r d e v i c e s h a v e a p a r t t o p l a y , b u t a r e s l o w a n d c u m b e r s o m e c o m p a r e d t o " s n i f f e r " d o g s , D u f f y s a i d .
T h e i n v e s t i g a t i o n i n t o D a y ' s d i s a p p e a r a n c e i s o n g o i n g a n d t h e D A ' s O f f i c e i s s t i l l a s k i n g f o r t h e p u b l i c ' s s u p p o r t .
A s i x - m o n t h e x t e n s i o n h a s b e e n g r a n t e d o n t h e $ 5 , 0 0 0 r e w a r d o f f e r e d f o r i n f o r m a t i o n l e a d i n g t o t h e l o c a t i o n o f D a n i c e D a y .
P e r s o n s w i t h a n y i n f o r m a t i o n m a y c o n t a c t t h e D A a t ( 7 1 9 ) 5 8 9 - 3 6 9 1 .
R e w a r d e x t e n d e d o n D a y a s C B I r e t u r n s
R I O G R A N D E C O U N T Y - T h e D i s t r i c t A t t o r n e y ' s o f f i c e h a s g o t t e n a s i x - m o n t h e x t e n s i o n o n t h e $ 5 , 0 0 0 r e w a r d o f f e r e d f o r i n f o r m a t i o n l e a d i n g t o t h e l o c a t i o n o f D a n i c e D a y , D A P e t e r C o m a r s a i d T h u r s d a y .
D a y , t h e 1 9 - y e a r - o l d s i n g l e m o t h e r o f t w o c h i l d r e n , w a s l a s t s e e n J a n . 9 i n M o n t e V i s t a . S h e i s 5 ' 5 " t a l l , w e i g h s a b o u t 1 0 5 p o u n d s , h a s b l o n d e h a i r a n d b l u e e y e s , a s w e l l a s p i e r c e d e a r s a n d a p i e r c e d l e f t e y e b r o w .
S h e w a s w e a r i n g b l a c k W r a n g l e r j e a n s a n d a w h i t e T - s h i r t w h e n s h e l e f t h o m e , a l l e g e d l y t e l l i n g b o y f r i e n d V i c t o r B r a u n t h a t s h e w a s g o i n g o u t w i t h f r i e n d s .
D a y l e f t b e h i n d h e r c a r a n d c e l l p h o n e , a c c o r d i n g t o r e p o r t s f r o m t h e M o n t e V i s t a P o l i c e D e p a r t m e n t .
C o m a r a n d D A I n v e s t i g a t o r S h a w n W o o d s s a i d T h u r s d a y t h a t t h e C o l o r a d o B u r e a u o f I n v e s t i g a t i o n ( C B I ) h a s b e e n i n t h e a r e a s e v e r a l t i m e s a n d i s r e t u r n i n g a g a i n t h i s w e e k t o f o l l o w u p o n s o m e n e w l e a d s .
" I n v e s t i g a t i o n i s s t i l l o n g o i n g , a n d w e a r e s t i l l a s k i n g f o r t h e p u b l i c ' s s u p p o r t , " W o o d s s a i d .
C o m a r s a i d o f h i s w o r k w i t h t h e C B I , " Y o u g o o v e r i t a n d s t a r t f r o m g r o u n d z e r o a n d s t a r t o v e r a g a i n . W e a r e s t i l l v e r y m u c h a c t i v e l y i n v o l v e d a n d w o r k i n g o n i t . "
B l o o d h o u n d s f r o m t h e A L I E F o u n d a t i o n a r e a l s o e x p e c t e d t o v i s i t t h e a r e a .
P e r s o n s w i t h i n f o m a y c a l l t h e D A a t ( 7 1 9 ) 5 8 9 - 3 6 9 1 .
Rod Day thanks 'unsung hero'
Once again to my only child, Dearest Danice,
Though you have been gone for over 200 days now, most of those who only know you through the media have probably forgotten that there was ever a problem. But, as I said before, your family and close friends have not and will not forget! This brings me to the reason for this letter. I feel that I have not been fair to one person that I will refer to as "the unsung hero."
Though she has unfairly been mentioned and referred to as "only the stepmother," or "only the grandparent," Judy day has been the real hero here, and she deserves a medal.
With me still trying to do a good job in my line of work, Judy stepped in and performed above and beyond the call of duty. Not only has she put up with my lack of concentration - but she has been as much of a parent to Joshua as any grandparent could. I started to say "as any mom could" - but you, Danice, are his mom - and I know Judy would never want that any other way.
You would be so proud to see how Joshua has grown and matured. Judy has him potty trained and dressing himself. She always has him clean, and in clean clothes. He always has a clean bed to sleep in. She got him a swimming pool and swing set. She even got him his own television and Barney tapes.
Physically, Joshua is doing just fine. Emotionally? He is a three-year-old who has had his mother taken away from him when he was two and one-half years old. Of course, he still thinks of you, and we feel he still thinks you are coming to pick him up after a brief stay at Grandma and Grandpa's. And that takes us back to the "real hero" - Judy has been there every step of the way - whether it has been an emotional hill or an emotional valley.
You would be proud of your step mom - I am.
By the way, thanks to an understanding judge, we will be seeing more of Kaylie starting this month. We are excited about it and looking forward to possibly having some input into her life. We want to ensure that she does not grow up not knowing who her mom is/was. I will keep you posted as we rekindle our relationship with your baby and our granddaughter.
As usual, it is a daily mental struggle to keep our senses intact. Family and friends help with that - your babies help with that.
I better close before my anger starts kicking again.
I will wait for God to point the way.
To my 'un-dead' daughter Danice
Dearest Danice:
You have no idea how much I hope this letter finds you well. You have no idea how much I want this letter to find you well. Please don't be alarmed by the title I have chosen. Actually, I stole it from the Grandpa (my dad) you never had the opportunity to meet and get to know.
This is a take-off from a letter he wrote to me before I was born entitled "To My Unborn Son," -a letter full of hope, pride and anticipation. This is what I want to try and express to you as I stumble over my own feelings of pride and anticipation - and now, also - anger.
I think every parent gets upset with their children at some time, but that does not mean in any way that they become less proud.
You are such a beautiful and talented young lady. You could be a model, you could be an artist and you could be the female jet pilot that you once dreamed of becoming. Your personality is unsurpassed - yet, unique to you.
You always have a smile for me when you stop by my office to visit. Sometimes the smile is phony and you get angry because I pick up on that very quickly. You have always had trouble hiding your true feelings from your "ole Dad."
I have watched you steadily grow and mature over the past couple of years. The anticipation of watching my child grow with her children always puts a lump of pride in my throat.
Our biggest (almost only) disagreement here lately has been over your choice of what you thought of "your man." My only request was that you move on and find a real man. But you swore to me you could change the one you have.
Danice Lea: Where are you? Please, come home.
I sit now in anticipation of what is to be.
I made the statement to a dear friend: "Why is God so angry with me?" My friend replied, "God had nothing to do with this!"
I still don't understand. Why would the "devil" use a worthless excuse for a human to carry out his "dirty" work?
I would think that even the devil would display more class in his choice of demons.
You and I have always had an open relationship. You kept very few secrets from me.
Even though we are close to knowing, I'm still going to ask the question again: "Where are you?"
I know why we cannot lay you to a peaceful rest. God is not ready. He has put His hand over you and that is the only reason we cannot find you. He will remove His hand soon and then He will point directly to where you are. It will be in His time-not mine.
You will never be dead in my heart. Your body may be taken from me (And all of those who love you). But you will never be forgotten. And rest assured-those who did this to you will not be forgotten either.
My heart is sad. And yes, I very much missed not hearing your voice this past Father's Day.
I love you, Danice Lea.
Your Dad
Rod Day of Del Norte is the father of Danice Day, who has was last seen on January 9, 2002 and whose disappearance remains under investigation.
Letter to the Editor
Monte Vista Journal
To the Editor:
I am Danice Day's sister from Laramie, Wyo. and I would like to peacefully respond to the previous letter to the editor about keeping the hope in our situation ["On Danice Day: Don't lose sight of what's really important,"[Monte Vista Journal, April 23]
I would first like to comment on your statement "If it were my daughter..." I feel like you cannot even begin to speculate how this type of a situation would effect you and your family's emotions and sense of hope. We are enduring a mish mash of emotions and reactions, none of which were predictable. Hope is not lost in our family, but we are making our judgement from our intimacy with Danice and the knowledge of her situation, one from which she was trying to escape and make a better life for herself and her children.
This situation has not fully come through in the media by which you have gotten your details. We would love to believe that Danice did go for a break and will walk back in the door to restart this blessing of a life, but we also live with the reality of the knowledge of her life at the time and feel as though foul play is a possibility. This I don't feel is hopeless, but merely facing all the options and putting our efforts into where our intuition tells us to place it. We firmly believe that Danice would not walk out on the two highlights of her life-her children. She was a loving mother who loved nothing more than doing just that.
As far as the term "scumbags" goes, I am not aware of the use of this term. I am also unaware of your source for this word, but do agree that it is not a responsible term to use for the unknown.
We appreciate your hope, and it is always helpful. My hope is that you would use the passion that you are showing for this case, and encourage community that has yet been seen. It is through community involvement that this case will get the attention that it is due and one day come to an answer.
Peace to you.
Julie K. Flint-Morgan
Laramie, WY
Monte Vista Journal
To the Editor:
I am outraged by letter to the editor from B. Martin of Monte Vista [Monte Vista Journal, April 24] I just read. I must say as a member of Danice [Day]'s family that there's not one of us that has given up hope that she is still alive. You expect us to take comfort in the fact that Danice's body has not yet been found and you can't understand why we are so upset. We need to know what has happened to her; we can no longer sit by and wait. We need answers, we need support, but we certainly do not need a complete stranger telling us how we should and should not feel.
When I wake up in the morning the first thing I do is turn on the news to see if over the night maybe someone might have located my cousin. I can't understand how you could think that Danice just left her two little babies. Then I realize that you did not know her, so you could never understand our pain.
Thank you for telling us to be optimistic, but seeing how she has been missing for nearly five months, our optimism is wearing thin. We do not want to realize this horror, but we are becoming increasingly aware of the fact that we may not see Danice again.
Furthermore, we are deeply hurt by the accusations that we are placing false blame. While it is frustrating, believe me when I say that every accusation our family has made has stemmed from well-established knowledge. We are not prejudiced against law enforcement officials as you implied, seeing how three of our close family members are police officers, including my own father.
Please understand that while we constantly pray that she is still living, we long for closure. Know that we grieve daily that we may never see Danice again, and while we appreciate your opinion, we disagree. Next time we'd appreciate your sensitivity for our grief.
Jamin Johnson, cousin of Danice Day
Laramie, WY
Letter to the Editor:
On Danice Day: Don't lose sight of what's really important
Monte Vista Journal
To the Editor:
To the Editor: I would like to say a few words on the Danice Day disappearance. This is coming from a person who has continually read the articles that have been in the paper the last couple of months.
First, I would like to know why everyone continues to say "the scumbags who did this to Danice." What would "this" be? The papers have not mentioned her body being found nor have they mentioned any evidence of foul play. The only evidence they have is that she is not here and has not been seen.
If this were my daughter, I would have an optimistic outlook and have hope that she will return. I would want to believe that maybe she has just taken off somewhere because of whatever pressures she might have had since, after all, she is a teenager mother. As her parents, I would not want to believe, nor would I think, the worst. This is what all articles seem to be saying. We don't know that there are any "scumbags" involved nor do we know that she will never be coming back. I would just like to tell Danice Day's parents, children and family to continue hoping, because you just never know.
As for the alleged cover-up by the Rio Grande County Sheriff's department, what is everyone talking about. Desi Medina turned the case over to Undersheriff Charles Martinez. According to newspaper articles, Sheriff Martinez questioned Victor Braun (Day's boyfriend) extensively. He was out at Victor's place of residence and place of employment on a daily basis. So who is it that is covering up? I know I sure would like to know. It has been said that if the investigation would have been handled properly then we would know what happened to Danice. Could we maybe not know because there is nothing to know? The Rio Grande Sheriff's department is having the blame placed on them because sometimes it is easier to place blame and makes the involved parties feel a little better because someone is getting in "trouble" and therefore gives the impression that something is being accomplished. Why does everyone always jump to conclusions and automatically blame the law enforcement officials. Police officers are human too and are capable of making mistakes, just like every other person in this world. What is wrong with offering a hypothetical scenario, which is what Desi Medina appeared to be doing at the minutes of the meeting that has everyone in an uproar. The only thing that would make this wrong would be if Desi was present at the time this alleged offense occurred:
Then he could be found guilty of some cover-up or something. Let the officials do their job without all of the criticism that seems to come so easily when things are not going perfectly. Remember this is not a perfect world and people will and can make mistakes. Law enforcement officials are just people. If Peter Comar feels he can do a better and more accurate job then that is his right. Let him do it. Quit all the criticism and the finger pointing and instead help support the local law enforcement officials.
And everyone remember, Danice Day is just missing, so don't lose sight of what is really important-finding her. Quit trying to place blame. Remain hopeful.
N a t i o n a l g r o u p j o i n s s e a r c h f o r w o m a n , 1 9
S p e c i a l t o T h e D e n v e r P o s t
A L A M O S A - A n a t i o n a l m i s s i n g p e r s o n s f o u n d a t i o n h a s j o i n e d t h e h u n t f o r a 1 9 - y e a r - o l d M o n t e V i s t a w o m a n w h o d i s a p p e a r e d i n e a r l y J a n u a r y .
D i s t r i c t A t t o r n e y P e t e r C o m a r , 1 2 t h J u d i c i a l D i s t r i c t , a n n o u n c e d t h a t t h e C a r o l e S u n d / C a r r i n g t o n M e m o r i a l R e w a r d F o u n d a t i o n i s p o s t i n g a $ 5 , 0 0 0 r e w a r d f o r i n f o r m a t i o n t h a t h e l p s t h e m f i n d D a n i c e D a y . T h e s i n g l e m o t h e r o f a 3 - y e a r - o l d b o y a n d a 1 0 - m o n t h - o l d g i r l h a s n ' t b e e n s e e n b y f r i e n d s o r f a m i l y s i n c e s h e l e f t h e r w a i t r e s s j o b J a n . 9 a n d w e n t t o h e r b o y f r i e n d ' s r u r a l r a n c h .
D a n i c e D a y h a s l o n g b l o n d h a i r , l a r g e b l u e e y e s , p i e r c e d e a r s a n d a p i e r c e d l e f t e y e b r o w . H e r c a r , k e y s a n d w a l l e t w e r e r e c o v e r e d a t a r a n c h w h e r e s h e w a s l i v i n g w i t h V i c t o r B r a u n , t h e b a b y ' s f a t h e r , r e p o r t s s a y .
B r a u n t o l d i n v e s t i g a t o r s t h a t D a y l e f t h i s p l a c e w i t h s o m e o n e h e d i d n ' t k n o w . T h a t p e r s o n i s a s u s p e c t b u t h a s n ' t b e e n c h a r g e d , o f f i c i a l s s a y .
T h e f o u n d a t i o n i s n a m e d a f t e r C a r o l e a n d J u l i S u n d a n d S i l v i n a P e l o s s a , w h o d i s a p p e a r e d a n d w e r e l a t e r f o u n d m u r d e r e d n e a r Y o s e m i t e N a t i o n a l P a r k i n F e b r u a r y 1 9 9 9 . F r a n c i s a n d C a r o l e C a r r i n g t o n , C a r o l e S u n d ' s p a r e n t s , p o s t e d a r e w a r d f o r t h e i r s a f e r e t u r n a n d t h e r e t u r n o f t h e i r r e n t a l c a r .
" T h e C a r r i n g t o n s b e l i e v e t h a t t h e p o s t i n g o f t h e s e r e w a r d s a n d t h e m e d i a a t t e n t i o n t h e y r e c e i v e d c o n t r i b u t e d t o t h e c a r b e i n g l o c a t e d a n d g a v e t h e m t h e f i r s t b r e a k i n t h e c a s e , " C o m a r r e a d f r o m a f o u n d a t i o n s t a t e m e n t .
T h e $ 5 , 0 0 0 f o u n d a t i o n r e w a r d w i l l b e a d d e d t o a $ 1 , 0 0 0 r e w a r d p o s t e d b y t h e S a n L u i s V a l l e y C r i m e S t o p p e r s . A n y o n e w i t h i n f o r m a t i o n i s a s k e d t o c a l l S h a w n W o o d s , 1 2 t h J u d i c i a l D i s t r i c t I n v e s t i g a t o r , a t 7 1 9 - 5 8 9 - 3 7 1 5 , o r C r i m e S t o p p e r s a t 7 1 9 - 5 8 9 - 4 1 1 1 .
" W e k n o w r e w a r d m o n e y c a n m a k e a d i f f e r e n c e , b e c a u s e t h e f o u n d a t i o n h a s a l r e a d y a s s i s t e d i n t h e a p p r e h e n s i o n o f 1 7 m u r d e r s u s p e c t s a n d o n e c h i l d m o l e s t e r , " C o m a r s a i d . " T o d a t e , t h e f o u n d a t i o n h a s p a i d a t o t a l o f $ 5 5 , 0 0 0 i n r e w a r d s t o c i t i z e n s w h o d i d t h e r i g h t t h i n g b y c o m i n g f o r w a r d a n d s h a r i n g t h e i n f o r m a t i o n t h e y h a d . "
I n a n u n p r e c e d e n t e d l e g a l m o v e , C o m a r t o o k t h e D a y c a s e f r o m R i o G r a n d e C o u n t y S h e r i f f D e s i M e d i n a o n M a r c h 2 6 a f t e r M e d i n a t o l d t h e R i o G r a n d e C o u n t y c o m m i s s i o n e r s a b o u t h i s f r i e n d s h i p w i t h V i c t o r B r a u n a n d h i s f a t h e r , V e r n o n . M e d i n a a l s o g a v e a g r a p h i c " o p i n i o n " o f h o w D a y w a s a l l e g e d l y m u r d e r e d . H e l a t e r s a i d h i s s t a t e m e n t s w e r e " o f f t h e r e c o r d " a l t h o u g h i t w a s a p u b l i c m e e t i n g .
D a y w a s r e p o r t e d m i s s i n g J a n . 1 2 b y h e r f a t h e r , R o d D a y . U n d e r s h e r i f f C h a r l e s M a r t i n e z h e a d e d t h e p r o b e b e c a u s e o f M e d i n a ' s r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h t h e B r a u n s , b u t C o m a r d e c i d e d t h e c a s e w a s t a i n t e d a n d p u t W o o d s i n c h a r g e .
A t t e m p t s t o c o n t a c t t h e B r a u n s w e r e u n s u c c e s s f u l , a n d t h e y h a v e n o t m a d e a n y p u b l i c s t a t e m e n t s .
Remembering Danice as a person
Danice Day disappeared in early January. Many stories have been printed about her disappearance and the investigation into her death. In addition, plenty of rumors have floated around the area, but at this point no one can say the true story of her possible death. This, of course, is very important to my family and I, but perhaps equally important to me is to remember who she was as a person. Danice was much more than a nineteen year-old waitress, she was my little sister.
My mother said that when she was expecting Danice, we, my mother, Rod (my stepfather), older sister and I, were all very excited. "She would be the bridge connecting us all," my mom said. From the time she was first brought home from the hospital, I knew my mother was right. She was going to be very special. My mother layed her on the couch in the living room. I layed my head next to her so I would be facing her. I was overjoyed by the fact that there was someone new in the house. Even though I was only six at the time, she became my best friend and I always wanted to take care of her.
I looked forward to going home every day after school because I could see Danice. I think I had this bond with her from the very start. I think she knew I was going to be there for her and I always tried to be. It was something inherent in both of us. I remember when I was eight and she must have been two or three, we both got the chicken pox about a week before Christmas. We got to spend the whole week at home together itching ourselves and being silly. We were jumping on the couches and destroying the house. I am sure our mother couldn't wait for them to heal so I could go back to school and stop egging Danice on. There was one particular pock that I remember very clearly. It was on the right side of her nose and the scar never went away. Every time I looked at her, I was reminded of the week of the chicken pox.
When it was time for Danice to start school, I couldn't wait to take her to her first day of kindergarten.. I think I even helped her lay out her clothes the night before and got her up the next morning. I walked with her to school and was actually very sad that she would be in school. It was almost as if I wanted her all for myself and didn't want to share her with the other kids. It was probably against her will that I made her stay close to me on the playground and kept checking on her at recess. It wasn't as if she was shy or anything and in the small town we grew up in, she already knew plenty of little girls to play with.
That whole year, I made every effort to make sure that I watched out for that cute little blond girl on the playground. Every child is the smartest child in the world, according to their family, but Danice really did excel very fast Things seemed to come pretty easy to her and most of her report cards indicated that she was, by all accounts, brilliant.
This doesn't mean as much as the fact that she had a good heart and never forgot to tell people that she loved them. My grandmother and mother both said that this is one their fondest memories of Danice. " She never forgot to say "love you Gram" every time she left," my grandmother said. My mother expressed the same sentiments when she said that Danice never gave up on her. Danice cried for nearly two hours the last time she saw my mother and they had to say goodbye (this past Christmas).
Danice had this habit of coming in my room to sleep with me just about every night. I am not sure if she had nightmares or just didn't like sleeping alone. We talked, giggled, or just watched TV before falling asleep. We had our nightly ritual before going to bed. It went something like this:
I would say "Night."
She would say, "Night."
I would say, "Love ya."
She would say "Love ya."
I would say "See you in the morning.
She would say, "Kay."
This was a ritual we always made sure to say, clear into adulthood, even when we weren't going to be staying the night together.
Like all kids approaching their teen years, Danice had her share of problems, that is not a secret. . I saw a drastic change in Danice when she entered Junior High. It broke my heart because of the potential I saw in her. All was not lost, of course. I kept loving her and supporting her, as did the rest of my family. She still graduated high school. I also know that she wanted to eventually go to college or beauty school.
Last year she wrote me a letter telling how good she and the kids were doing. She said that she was taking steps to find the "real Danice." She had been in a rehab program for addiction and was seeking counseling. Her writing this, of course, made me hopeful and sad. Hopeful that she could truly be happy with herself and sad that maybe she didn't know how special she was either way.
I talked to Danice about two days before her disappearance. My family had just had one of the best Christmases I can remember. Danice was, from observation, doing really well and I couldn't get over what a beautiful woman and great mom she had become. That Monday, something inside me said "I just want to call her and tell her how much I miss her and see how the kids are doing." I usually had a hard time reaching her on her cell phone, but this time she answered. We talked for a couple of minutes and she, for some reason, seemed surprised that someone could miss her that much. Sometimes when we hung up the phone she would say "I love you," and I would jokingly reply "I know you think you do." She would always get a little irritated by that statement and I would have to make sure she knew I was just kidding. This time, there was no joking, but there was still the "I love you," and that seems more important than ever right now. Through everything, one thing never changed about Danice, she was always still very loving towards everyone.
As my friend and I were walking through the park the other day, he said "When you look back on this year, you won't remember the fact that you were broke and having trouble making it in New York City. You won't think of the boss' who you despise, you probably won't even remember me, the only thing you will remember is the loss of your sister." He is right, the loss of a sibling is something you never ever forget and when you don't have any closure as to how you lost that sibling, it is all the more painful. There are many stages of grief. There are minutes when you don't think about it and you feel guilty, there are days when you are in denial and think that he/she is going to walk through the door and then there is the part when you blame yourself.
"If I only could have loved her more," you think to yourself. You also think of all the good times you had with them or the funny things that person did like eating peanut butter and syrup mixed together as dinner or the way you used to sing along to the silly songs of New Kids on the Block, thinking they were really talented.
Then there comes a time when you face reality and that is going to be tough. I knew from the first day that I was told Danice was missing that I would probably never see her again, but that doesn't make it any easier. On the back of the graduation picture Danice sent to me, she wrote, "You have always been there for me, thanks for everything....you are my best friend."
I am happy she knew I loved her and that gives me some comfort.
Letter to the Editor
Monte Vista Journal
During the past three months, many friends and family members have contacted us as to how we feel about the disappearance of our darling daughter, Danice. How do we as parents express the greatest loss a parent can feel? Each day we wonder whether we will be able to see her, or be able to love and hold her again. The "terror" we feel each night that the next day will only bring another day of not knowing and the possible reality that we will never see her again.
We have been devastated by what has happened concerning the investigation of our daughter. Now we are told that the entire investigation may have to start over from the beginning. Are our hearts heavy? Yes. Are we angry? Yes. Were the last 77 days just wasted time? Perhaps.
Since January 12 (the night we reported Danice missing), we have prayed daily that when we contact the RGSO they will give us word that our daughter has been found, but each day turns out the same," We have no leads." And now, in our hearts, we ask "Why?" Has there been interference in the case of our missing daughter? Has the Sheriff's office done everything possible to find our daughter? Has the Sheriff's obvious friendship with the named suspects caused our daughter's case to be hindered in any way? We have put our trust in our local Sheriff's Department and that trust has been diminished by the Sheriff being more concerned about the suspects in this case than our missing daughter. What about concern for her two beautiful children, Joshua (3) and Kaylie (11 months)? How do we as grandparents explain this type of unforgivable behavior to these babies?
Things have changed. We now direct our trust and prayers toward the D.A.'s office and the CBI. Hopefully, there will be a speedy investigation to find the answer to what has happened to our daughter. And if foul play is involved - the appropriate measures will be taken. We are also confident that the people of the San Luis Valley, in a combined effort, will help insure that justice will be served to any public official that has misused his position.
We do not want our anger and frustration over the recent developments concerning the RGSO to cloud our minds from reality. Our reality is that our daughter is still missing and possibly fatally hurt. To that end, we ask anyone with any information regarding Danice, please call the D.A.'s office at 719-589-3715 or Crimestoppers at 719-589-4111. You can remain anonymous and we so want Danice's children to know the truth.
Lastly, we want to thank all of our friends and family whom we know pray each day for Danice, her babies, us, and for a speedy "closure" to this nightmare. Thanks also to Marsha Triplett for "bringing to light" the discrepancies that could be the turning point for our daughter.
Rod and Judy Day - Del Norte, CO
D o u b t s l i n g e r o v e r m i s s i n g w o m a n ' s c a s e
S p e c i a l t o T h e D e n v e r P o s t
M O N T E V I S T A - A c a s e o f a y o u n g M o n t e V i s t a w o m a n m i s s i n g s i n c e e a r l y J a n u a r y h a s t u r n e d i n t o a n i g h t m a r e f o r h e r p a r e n t s , a n a t i o n w i d e s e a r c h f o r h e r a n d a l o c a l c o n t r o v e r s y .
D a n i c e D a y i s 1 9 y e a r s o l d , h a s l o n g b l o n d h a i r , l a r g e b l u e e y e s , p i e r c e d e a r s a n d a p i e r c e d l e f t e y e b r o w . T h e s i n g l e m o t h e r o f a 3 - y e a r - o l d b o y a n d a 1 0 - m o n t h - o l d g i r l h a s n ' t b e e n s e e n s i n c e s h e l e f t h e r w a i t r e s s j o b a t D o s R i o s R e s t a u r a n t e o n J a n . 9 a n d w e n t t o h e r b o y f r i e n d ' s r u r a l r a n c h , a c c o r d i n g t o r e p o r t s .
D a y w a s l i v i n g w i t h V i c t o r B r a u n , f a t h e r o f t h e b a b y g i r l , a c c o r d i n g t o h e r f r i e n d s . R i o G r a n d e C o u n t y U n d e r s h e r i f f C h a r l e s M a r t i n e z s a i d V i c t o r a n d h i s f a t h e r , V e r n o n B r a u n , a r e c o n s i d e r e d s u s p e c t s i n h e r d i s a p p e a r a n c e .
" V i c t o r w a s t h e l a s t p e r s o n s e e n w i t h h e r , " M a r t i n e z s a i d . " V i c t o r s a i d s h e l e f t h i s r e s i d e n c e w i t h a f r i e n d b u t n o b o d y k n o w s w h o t h e f r i e n d w a s . A n a r g u m e n t e n s u e d b e c a u s e s h e w a s g o i n g o u t w i t h s o m e o n e h e d i d n ' t k n o w . "
D a y ' s c a r , k e y s , w a l l e t , c e l l p h o n e a n d c l o t h i n g w e r e a l l r e c o v e r e d a t t h e B r a u n r e s i d e n c e , a c c o r d i n g t o h e r f a t h e r , R o d D a y , w h o r e p o r t e d h e r m i s s i n g J a n . 1 2 .
" E a c h d a y w e w o n d e r w h e t h e r w e w i l l b e a b l e t o s e e h e r , o r b e a b l e t o l o v e a n d h o l d h e r a g a i n , " R o d D a y s a i d i n a w r i t t e n s t a t e m e n t . " T h e t e r r o r w e f e e l e a c h n i g h t - t h a t t h e n e x t d a y w i l l o n l y b r i n g a n o t h e r d a y o f n o t k n o w i n g a n d t h e p o s s i b l e r e a l i t y t h a t w e w i l l n e v e r s e e h e r a g a i n . "
R o d D a y a n d h i s w i f e , J u d y , a r e c a r i n g f o r t h e s o n a n d t h e b a b y i s w i t h h e r f a t h e r .
M a r t i n e z s a i d t h a t s i n c e J a n . 1 2 , d e p u t i e s h a v e c a l l e d i n t h e C o l o r a d o B u r e a u o f I n v e s t i g a t i o n , p o s t e d D a y ' s p i c t u r e o n s e v e r a l " m i s s i n g p e r s o n " W e b p a g e s a n d l a w e n f o r c e m e n t d a t a b a s e s , s e a r c h e d t h e B r a u n r a n c h , s c o u r e d n e a r b y f o o t h i l l s o n h o r s e b a c k , a n d e v e n a s k e d t w o p s y c h i c s a n d a N a t i v e A m e r i c a n s h a m a n f o r h e l p . M a n y S a n L u i s V a l l e y b u s i n e s s e s h a v e p o s t e d h e r p h o t o o n d o o r w a y s a n d l o c a l n e w s p a p e r s h a v e p u b l i s h e d a r t i c l e s a b o u t h e r d i s a p p e a r a n c e .
" I c a n ' t p i c t u r e h e r l e a v i n g h e r c h i l d r e n , " s a i d P a m B r i c k e r , o n e o f D a y ' s f o r m e r t e a c h e r s a t t h e B y r o n S y r i n g D e l t a C e n t e r , a M o n t e V i s t a a l t e r n a t i v e s c h o o l f r o m w h i c h D a y g r a d u a t e d i n M a y 2 0 0 0 . " T h i s h a s b e e n v e r y d i s t r e s s i n g f o r a l l o f u s . S h e i s a s w e e t b u b b l y g i r l a n d v e r y , v e r y s m a r t . "
T h e B r a u n s a r e a c q u a i n t a n c e s o f R i o G r a n d e C o u n t y S h e r i f f D e s i M e d i n a , a r e l a t i o n s h i p t h a t i s " a p o t e n t i a l c o n f l i c t , " a c c o r d i n g t o D i s t r i c t A t t o r n e y P e t e r C o m a r o f t h e 1 2 t h J u d i c i a l D i s t r i c t , a n d c a u s e f o r " t a k i n g o v e r t h i s i n v e s t i g a t i o n , " a c c o r d i n g t o a M a r c h 2 1 l e t t e r f r o m C o m a r t o M e d i n a . C o m a r o f f i c i a l l y t o o k o v e r t h e c a s e l a s t w e e k .
" W e w o u l d a s k t h a t a n y i n d i v i d u a l w h o f e e l s t h e y h a v e i n f o r m a t i o n r e g a r d i n g t h e d i s a p p e a r a n c e o f D a n i c e D a y c a l l 7 1 9 - 5 8 9 - 3 7 1 5 , " C o m a r s a i d . " P l e a s e d o n o t c a l l t h e R i o G r a n d e C o u n t y S h e r i f f ' s O f f i c e a s t h e y h a v e n o f u r t h e r i n v o l v e m e n t i n t h i s m a t t e r . "
C o m a r ' s d e c i s i o n w a s p r o v o k e d b y c o m m e n t s M e d i n a m a d e t o t h e R i o G r a n d e C o u n t y b o a r d o f c o m m i s s i o n e r s l a s t m o n t h .
" D a n i c e w e n t t o h e r a n d V i c t o r ' s r e s i d e n c e a n d V e r n a n d V i c t o r w e r e i n a n o t h e r r o o m a n d D a n i c e c a m e i n a n d t o l d V i c t o r t h a t s h e w a s g o i n g t o l e a v e h i m , " M e d i n a s a i d , a c c o r d i n g t o t h e m e e t i n g m i n u t e s . " V i c t o r g o t u p t o h i t D a n i c e a n d s h e m o v e d a n d h e h i t h e r i n t h e e s o p h a g u s , w h i c h k i l l e d h e r . "
" W e w e r e s h o c k e d w i t h h i s c o m m e n t s a b o u t h o w s h e w a s k i l l e d , " s a i d V e r n R o m i n g e r , c o m m i s s i o n c h a i r . " I f t h e y k n o w a l l t h i s , w h y h a s n ' t s o m e t h i n g b e e n d o n e ? "
M e d i n a n o w c l a i m s h i s s t a t e m e n t s w e r e " o f f t h e r e c o r d , " a l t h o u g h i t w a s a p u b l i c m e e t i n g .
H e d e n i e d s h o w i n g a n y f a v o r i t i s m t o t h e B r a u n s , a n d s a i d h e t u r n e d t h e c a s e o v e r t o M a r t i n e z i n J a n u a r y t o a v o i d t h e a p p e a r a n c e o f a c o n f l i c t o f i n t e r e s t . H e p l e d g e d c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h C o m a r .
" I ' m f r i e n d s w i t h e v e r y b o d y , " M e d i n a s a i d . " V i c t o r a n d V e r n h a v e b e e n u n d e r d o g s , b u t I t r e a t e v e r y b o d y t h e s a m e . "
A t t e m p t s t o c o n t a c t t h e B r a u n s w e r e u n s u c c e s s f u l a n d t h e y h a v e n o t m a d e a n y p u b l i c s t a t e m e n t s a b o u t D a y ' s d i s a p p e a r a n c e .
A n y o n e w i t h i n f o r m a t i o n i s a s k e d t o c a l l t h e D i s t r i c t A t t o r n e y ' s O f f i c e o r S a n L u i s V a l l e y C r i m e s t o p p e r s a t 7 1 9 - 5 8 9 - 4 1 1 1 t o c o l l e c t a p o s s i b l e $ 1 , 0 0 0 r e w ard.
Letter to the Editor:
Sheriff hopes unauthorized releases, conjectures and DA's preemptive move won't compromise search for Danice Day
Monte Vista Journal
To the Editor:
The [Rio Grande County] Sheriff's office truly regrets the public confusion about the disappearance of Danice Day. As was explained in previous newspaper articles, Sheriff Medina delegated this case to Undersheriff Martinez from the beginning, knowing that he had a personal relationship in the past with parties involved in the case.
In a small county like this almost every case involves suspects, victims and witnesses that are known personally to the Sheriff or a member of his staff. Reassigning cases to others within the department to avoid conflict is a routine matter. Every available resource has been tapped to solve this case, from the County Commissioners to the District Attorney and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.
We have coordinated the investigation with local law enforcement agencies throughout Colorado as well as other states. Missing person's organizations nation wide have been contacted and advised. The implication that the Sheriff of Rio Grande County has not pursued this case is unfounded, misleading and only feeds irrational sensationalism.
Any missing person case is sensitive. Although the possibility of foul play cannot be ruled out, there may be a credible reason for the disappearance. If foul play was involved, it is imperative that proper procedures be followed throughout the investigation in order not to violate the rule of law.
The function of the District Attorney is to prosecute cases where the law has been broken, and we have been working with the DA to make sure that the actions of this office assist him in doing his job if it comes to that.
Every possibility must be followed up if we are going to bring this case to resolution. Most missing person cases are resolved in the first 24 hours. Very few cases go beyond 90 days without resolution. The Sheriff and his staff feel that resolution of this case is still a realistic expectation. The Sheriff hopes that unauthorized press releases, conjectures and the DA's preemptive move to manage the case will not make it harder to find out what we all want to know: What happened to Danice Day?
Sgt. Dusty Little, press officer Rio Grande County Sheriff's Office
D A r e q u e s t s f i l e s f o r D a y c a s e
A L A M O S A - S e t t i n g a n u n u s u a l p r e c e d e n t , D i s t r i c t A t t o r n e y P e t e r C o m a r t o o k a s t r o n g h a n d i n t h e D a n i c e D a y c a s e . I n a l e t t e r s e n t T h u r s d a y , M a r c h 2 1 , t o R i o G r a n d e C o u n t y S h e r i f f D e s i M e d i n a , C o m a r w r o t e , " . . . I a m t a k i n g o v e r t h e i n v e s t i g a t i o n a n d a s k t h a t y o u s e n d o v e r y o u r f i l e s a n d c e a s e a n y f u r t h e r w o r k o n t h i s m a t t e r . "
I n a n i n t e r v i e w o n F e b . 2 8 , M e d i n a c o n f i r m e d t h a t h e e x p l a i n e d w h a t h e d e c l a r e d w a s h i s o p i n i o n o f h o w D a y d i e d d u r i n g a R i o G r a n d e C o u n t y C o m m i s s i o n e r m e e t i n g h e l d F e b . 2 7 . M i n u t e s o f t h a t m e e t i n g w e r e r e l e a s e d T h u r s d a y .
I n h i s l e t t e r , C o m a r s a i d h e h a d r e a d a c o p y o f t h e m i n u t e s a n d e x p r e s s e d c o n c e r n t h a t M e d i n a ' s c l o s e r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h t h e B r a u n s p o s e s a p o t e n t i a l c o n f l i c t o f i n t e r e s t .
" I ' v e g o t t o d o s o m e t h i n g , " C o m a r s a i d . " I c a l l e d a n o t h e r D A t h a t I k n o w a n d d i s c u s s e d t h e s i t u a t i o n w i t h h i m , a n d h e s a i d i f i t w e r e h i m , h e ' d t a k e t h e c a s e o v e r . "
C o m a r a d m i t t e d i t i s a n u n u s u a l a c t i o n , b u t h e s a i d h e f e l t t h e r e w a s n o o t h e r o p t i o n . " I g u e s s i f D e s i w a n t s t o f i g h t ( s u r r e n d e r i n g t h e c a s e ) , t h e n w e ' l l f i g h t , " h e s a i d .
T h e m i n u t e s o f t h e R i o G r a n d e C o u n t y B o a r d o f C o m m i s s i o n e r s m e e t i n g s t a t e : " S h e r i f f M e d i n a t o l d t h e C o m m i s s i o n e r s t h a t w h a t h a p p e n e d i s D e n i s e [ D a n i c e ] w e n t t o h e r a n d V i c t o r ' s r e s i d e n c e a n d V e r n a n d V i c t o r w e r e i n a n o t h e r r o o m a n d D e n i s e [ D a n i c e ] c a m e i n a n d t o l d V i c t o r t h a t s h e w a s g o i n g t o l e a v e h i m . V i c t o r g o t u p t o h i t D e n i s e [ D a n i c e ] a n d s h e m o v e d a n d h e h i t h e r i n t h e e s o p h a g u s , w h i c h k i l l e d h e r . T h e y h a v e n o t f o u n d t h e b o d y y e t . "
M e d i n a s a i d t h a t h e o r i g i n a l l y w e n t i n t o t h e m e e t i n g t o s p e a k t o C o m m i s s i o n e r D o u g D a v i e o n a n o t h e r i s s u e . A t s o m e p o i n t , C o m m i s s i o n e r V e r n R o m i n g e r a s k e d a b o u t t h e D a y c a s e , M e d i n a s a i d .
" I t w a s j u s t t w o o l d f a r t s t a l k i n g t o e a c h o t h e r , " s t a t e d M e d i n a . H e c o n t i n u e d e x p l a i n i n g t h a t h e t h o u g h t h e w a s t a l k i n g w i t h t h e c o m m i s s i o n e r s o f f - t h e - r e c o r d a n d t h a t h e w a s s i m p l y o u t l i n i n g h i s o w n o p i n i o n o f w h a t h a p p e n e d .
I n a b r i e f i n t e r v i e w e a r l y T h u r s d a y m o r n i n g , M e d i n a s a i d , " I f e l t o b l i g a t e d t o r e s p o n d w h e n V e r n R o m i n g e r a s k e d m e a b o u t t h e D a y c a s e . "
T h e m i n u t e s c l e a r l y s t a t e t h a t S h e r i f f M e d i n a a s k e d t h e c o m m i s s i o n e r s i f t h e y w a n t e d t o k n o w a n y t h i n g a b o u t t h e D a y c a s e .
W h e n c o n t a c t e d , R o m i n g e r s a i d , " I d o r e m e m b e r a s k i n g D e s i a f t e r h e s p o k e w i t h D o u g a b o u t t h e D a y c a s e . " R o m i n g e r d i d n o t r e m e m b e r a t w h a t p o i n t i n t h e m e e t i n g h e a s k e d b u t d i d s a y , " T h e m i n u t e s m a y b e w r o n g , " w i t h r e g a r d t o w h o i n i t i a l l y a s k e d a b o u t t h e c a s e .
R o m i n g e r s a i d , " W e a b o u t f e l l o f f o u r c h a i r s w h e n h e t o l d h o w s h e w a s k i l l e d . "
T h e m i n u t e s r e p o r t M e d i n a m e n t i o n i n g t h a t h e h a s t u r n e d t h e c a s e o v e r t o U n d e r s h e r i f f C h a r l e s M a r t i n e z b e c a u s e M e d i n a k n o w s V i c t o r B r a u n a n d V e r n B r a u n v e r y w e l l . V i c t o r B r a u n , D a y ' s b o y f r i e n d a n d V e r n B r a u n , V i c t o r ' s f a t h e r , h a v e b o t h b e e n q u e s t i o n e d a b o u t D a y ' s d i s a p p e a r a n c e .
D u r i n g t h e m e e t i n g , M e d i n a i s r e p o r t e d a s h a v i n g c o m p a r e d V i c t o r t o h i s o w n s o n a n d h a v i n g s a i d t h a t V e r n r e m i n d e d h i m o f h i m s e l f . I n f u r t h e r c o n v e r s a t i o n a s r e p o r t e d i n t h e m i n u t e s , " M e d i n a t o l d C o m m i s s i o n e r s t h a t h e f e l t s o r r y f o r V i c t o r a n d i s i n d e e d a f r a i d o f J u d g e T r u j i l l o a n d J u d g e O g b u r n b e c a u s e h e k n o w s t h a t t h e y w o u l d n o t t h i n k t w i c e a b o u t t h r o w i n g h i m [ V i c t o r ] i n j a i l . "
T h e s e c o m m e n t s h a v e l e d o f f i c i a l s t o q u e s t i o n t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n t h e B r a u n s a n d M e d i n a a n d h a s l e d i n p a r t t o t h e r e q u e s t f o r r e m o v a l o f M e d i n a f r o m t h e D a y c a s e .
C o m a r s a i d h e w i l l b e m e e t i n g w i t h r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f t h e C o l o r a d o B u r e a u o f I n v e s t i g a t i o n t h i s m o r n i n g , a n d t h a t e v e n C B I o f f i c i a l s h a v e q u i e t l y s u g g e s t e d h e s h o u l d t a k e t h e D a y c a s e f r o m M e d i n a a n d t h e R G S O .
R o d a n d J u d y D a y , p a r e n t s o f D a n i c e D a y , h a d r e a d a c o p y o f t h e C o m m i s s i o n e r m e e t i n g m i n u t e s a n d a l s o k n e w a b o u t t h e l e t t e r f r o m C o m a r w h e n V a l l e y P u b l i s h i n g c o n t a c t e d t h e m T h u r s d a y e v e n i n g .
" W e j u s t i n o u r h e a r t s w o n d e r h o w s o o n w o u l d t h i s h a v e b e e n s o l v e d i f s o m e t h i n g h a d n o t b e e n a p p a r e n t l y c o v e r e d u p , " R o d D a y s a i d . " I t a p p e a r s t o u s t h a t s o m e t h i n g h a s b e e n c o v e r e d u p . "
E a r l y T h u r s d a y e v e n i n g R o m i n g e r h a d b e e n t o l d o f t h e r e q u e s t b y C o m a r b u t h a d n o c o m m e n t . C o m m i s s i o n e r D o u g D a v i e w a s n o t a w a r e o f t h e r e q u e s t b y C o m a r u n t i l c o n t a c t e d b y V a l l e y P u b l i s h i n g a n d h a d n o c o m m e n t . C o m m i s s i o n e r R a n d y B r o w n w a s o u t o f t o w n a n d u n a v a i l a b l e f o r c o m m e n t .
M e d i n a : D a y p r o b a b l y d e a d
D E L N O R T E - C o n t r o v e r s y i s s t i l l s w i r l i n g a r o u n d c o m m e n t s m a d e b y R i o G r a n d e C o u n t y S h e r i f f D e s i M e d i n a F e b . 2 7 i n a r e g u l a r o p e n s e s s i o n o f t h e R i o G r a n d e C o u n t y C o m m i s s i o n e r s .
D u r i n g t h e m e e t i n g , M e d i n a d r o p p e d a b o m b s h e l l c o n c e r n i n g t h e i n v e s t i g a t i o n o f t h e d i s a p p e a r a n c e o f D a n i c e D a y , a M o n t e V i s t a r e s i d e n t m i s s i n g s i n c e J a n . 9 .
M e d i n a t o l d t h o s e p r e s e n t h e t h o u g h t h e k n e w h o w D a y d i e d a n d p r o c e e d e d t o d e s c r i b e t h e m a n n e r o f h e r a l l e g e d d e a t h .
O n F e b . 2 8 , t h e s h e r i f f s a i d , i n c o n v e r s a t i o n , " Y e s t e r d a y w a s a m i s t a k e . I s a i d i t i n c o n f i d e n c e a s t o h o w I t h i n k h e [ t h e p e r p e t r a t o r ] d i d i t , n o t i n t h e c a p a c i t y o f S h e r i f f . " M e d i n a s a i d h e b e l i e v e d h i s c o m m e n t s w e r e o f f t h e r e c o r d .
V a l l e y P u b l i s h i n g a t t e m p t e d t o s e c u r e m i n u t e s o f t h e m e e t i n g , b u t w a s f i r s t t o l d t h e m i n u t e s c o u l d n o t b e d e l i v e r e d u n t i l a p p r o v e d .
I n a s e c o n d c a l l a s k i n g w h e t h e r a t a p e o f t h e m i n u t e s h a d b e e n m a d e , V a l l e y P u b l i s h i n g w a s t o l d t h e m i n u t e s w e r e n o t t a p e d .
F u r t h e r , R i o G r a n d e C o u n t y A d m i n i s t r a t o r S u z a n n e B e n t o n s a i d a p r o t e c t i v e o r d e r h a d b e e n p l a c e d o n t h e m i n u t e s o f t h e m e e t i n g b y D i s t r i c t A t t o r n e y P e t e r C o m a r .
V a l l e y P u b l i s h i n g c o n t a c t e d C o l o r a d o P r e s s A s s o c i a t i o n A t t o r n e y S t e v e Z a n s b e r g t o d e t e r m i n e i f a p r o t e c t i v e o r d e r c o u l d l e g a l l y b e p l a c e d o n t h e r e c o r d s o f a p u b l i c m e e t i n g .
Z a n s b e r g s a i d h e s p o k e w i t h C o m a r a n d B e n t o n a n d i n f o r m e d V a l l e y P u b l i s h i n g t h a t a p r o t e c t i v e o r d e r w a s n e v e r i n p l a c e a n d t h e m i n u t e s c o u l d n o t b e l e g a l l y s u p p r e s s e d .
C o n t a c t e d o n T u e s d a y , M a r c h 1 9 , B e n t o n s a i d R i o G r a n d e C o u n t y A t t o r n e y W i l l i a m D u n n o r i g i n a l l y s p o k e w i t h A s s i s t a n t D i s t r i c t A t t o r n e y M i k e I o z z o r e g a r d i n g t h e m i n u t e s i n q u e s t i o n a f t e r c o m m e n t s p e r t a i n i n g t o t h e D a y i n v e s t i g a t i o n w e r e m a d e b y M e d i n a d u r i n g t h e c o m m i s s i o n e r s ' m e e t i n g .
A c c o r d i n g t o B e n t o n , I o z z o s a i d h e w o u l d s p e a k w i t h C o m a r a n d a p r o t e c t i v e o r d e r w o u l d b e p l a c e d o n t h e m i n u t e s . B e n t o n s a i d s h e h a d s t i l l n o t r e c e i v e d t h e o r d e r l a s t w e e k a n d o n T h u r s d a y f a x e d t h e p o r t i o n o f t h e m i n u t e s i n q u e s t i o n t o C o m a r f o r r e v i e w . B e n t o n h a d s t i l l n o t h e a r d a n y t h i n g f r o m C o m a r a n d t o l d V a l l e y P u b l i s h i n g T u e s d a y t h a t t h e m i n u t e s w o u l d b e a p p r o v e d T h u r s d a y d u r i n g t h e c o m m i s s i o n e r s ' m e e t i n g a n d w o u l d b e a v a i l a b l e t o t h e p u b l i c . C o n t a c t e d a b o u t t h e m a t t e r , C o m a r s a i d t h e m i n u t e s w e r e p u b l i c r e c o r d a n d t h e r e f o r e c o u l d n o t b e s e a l e d .
D a y I n v e s t i g a t i o n C o n t i n u e s
T h e o n g o i n g i n v e s t i g a t i o n i n t o t h e w h e r e a b o u t s o f D a y h a s p r o d u c e d l i t t l e n e w i n f o r m a t i o n t h a t c a n b e r e l e a s e d a t t h i s t i m e a c c o r d i n g t o R i o G r a n d e C o u n t y U n d e r s h e r i f f C h a r l e s M a r t i n e z . T h e R i o G r a n d e S h e r i f f ' s O f f i c e ( R G S O ) i s w o r k i n g w i t h t h e C o l o r a d o B u r e a u o f I n v e s t i g a t i o n ( C B I ) o n t h e c a s e .
M a r t i n e z s a i d a s i x - m a n C B I f o r e n s i c t e a m r e c e n t l y c o n d u c t e d t e s t s a t D a y ' s r e s i d e n c e , a s w e l l a s o n a b o a t b e l o n g i n g t o V e r n B r a u n , f a t h e r o f D a y ' s b o y f r i e n d V i c t o r B r a u n . M a r t i n e z s a i d i n f o r m a t i o n o n w h a t w a s d i s c o v e r e d d u r i n g t h e f o r e n s i c i n v e s t i g a t i o n c o u l d n o t b e d i s c l o s e d . H e d i d s a y t h e t e a m w a s l o o k i n g f o r h a i r f i b e r s , f i n g e r p r i n t s , b l o o d s p a t t e r s , s a l i v a a n d s e m e n , a m o n g o t h e r t h i n g s .
T h e u n d e r s h e r i f f s a i d t h e C B I e x e c u t e d a w a r r a n t o n a g r a v e s i t e j u s t o u t s i d e a f e n c e d a r e a o f t h e R o c k C r e e k C e m e t e r y . N e a r t h e g r a v e s i t e w a s a r o c k w i t h D + V s c r a t c h e d o n i t . T h e s i t e y i e l d e d t h e b o d i e s o f t w o a n i m a l s .
C B I a n d R G S O h a v e c o n d u c t e d i n t e r v i e w s w i t h p r e s e n t a n d p a s t e m p l o y e e s o f t h e D o s R i o s R e s t a u r a n t , w h e r e D a y w a s e m p l o y e d a t t h e t i m e o f h e r d i s a p p e a r a n c e .
E m p l o y e e s o f C a r n e g i e L i b r a r y i n M o n t e V i s t a a n d R a i n b o w G r o c e r y , b o t h e s t a b l i s h m e n t s w h e r e D a y h a d p r e v i o u s l y w o r k e d , a l s o h a v e b e e n i n t e r v i e w e d , M a r t i n e z s a i d .
CBI now on Danice Day case
MONTE VISTA - Nearly six weeks ago, local Monte Vista resident and young mother, Danice Day, was reported missing. Since that time no evidence has been discovered by local law enforcement agencies that would lead to her where abouts.
In an interview with Rio Grande County Under Sheriff Charles Martinez last week, Martinez stated that the Colorado Bureau of Investigation had been officially asked to lend a hand in the investigation.
Victor Braun, Day's boyfriend, and Vern Braun, Victor Braun's father, are suspects in the case. Martinez said over 150 hours have been spent combing their property as well as the Rock Creek area in search of Day's body. According to Martinez, there is no strong evidence to suggest there may be a body but all leads had to be checked out. The searches were conducted on both government and private property. Martinez stated that permission of landowners was not needed and indicated valuable time would be lost identifying and contacting landowners to receive their permission.
In addition to the searches on 4-wheelers, Martinez said that several searches of the suspects' homes and shops have conducted with full cooperation and permission of the Brauns. When questioned about a recent shipment of luminol received at RGSO, Martinez confirmed that the luminol was used in the Day investigation by the department. Luminol detects blood proteins on fibers and Martinez stated no evidence of blood was found.
Martinez also stated that cadaver dogs had recently been brought in and again residences, personal vehicles, personal property and the surrounding country was searched but they too failed to find any evidence leading to a body.
When questioned about training the department had received with regard to handling this type of case, Martinez stated, "Many of our people have a lot of experience in missing people and homicides. None of us have forensic training." According to Martinez, that is one reason CBI had been called in.
M i s s i n g W a i t r e s s F e a r e d D e a d
M o t h e r O f T w o D i s a p p e a r s I n S a n L u i s V a l l e y
A S a n L u i s V a l l e y w a i t r e s s , m i s s i n g f o r m o r e o n e m o n t h , i s b e l i e v e d t o b e d e a d , a c c o r d i n g t o t h e R i o G r a n d C o u n t y S h e r i f f ' s O f f i c e .
A u t h o r i t i e s h a v e b e e n s e a r c h i n g f o r D a n i c e D a y , 1 9 , s i n c e J a n . 9 .
" W e ' r e c o n c e n t r a t i n g o n l o o k i n g f o r a b o d y , " U n d e r s h e r i f f C h a r l e s M a r t i n e z t o l d t h e A l a m o s a V a l l e y C o u r i e r M o n d a y .
" W e s t i l l h o p e s h e ' s a l i v e , b u t e v e r y t h i n g p o i n t s t o h e r b e i n g d e a d . . . A l l t h e l e a d s o f h e r b e i n g a l i v e h a v e f a i l e d . "
D a y r e p o r t e d l y w e n t t o h e r h o m e f r o m h e r j o b t h e a f t e r n o o n o f J a n . 9 a n d t o l d h e r b o y f r i e n d s h e w a s g o i n g o u t w i t h a f r i e n d , a c c o r d i n g t o M a r t i n e z . T h a t w a s t h e l a s t t i m e s h e w a s s e e n . D e p u t i e s h a v e s e v e r a l s u s p e c t s i n t h e c a s e , i n c l u d i n g D a y ' s l i v e - i n b o y f r i e n d .
" H e ' s a l w a y s b e e n a s u s p e c t , " M a r t i n e z s a i d , " b u t h e ' s n o t t h e o n l y s u s p e c t . W e h a v e t w o o r t h r e e s u s p e c t s . "
D e p u t i e s h a v e u s e d f o u r - w h e e l e r s a n d f o u r - w h e e l - d r i v e t r u c k s t o s e a r c h a n a r e a w e s t o f M o n t e V i s t a , C o l o . , b u t f a i l e d t o f i n d a n y t r a c e o f D a y . T h e C o l o r a d o B u r e a u o f I n v e s t i g a t i o n i s h e l p i n g t h e s h e r i f f ' s o f f i c e i n v e s t i g a t e t h e d i s a p p e a r a n c e .
S a n L u i s V a l l e y C r i m e s t o p p e r s i s o f f e r i n g a r e w a r d o f u p t o $ 1 , 0 0 0 f o r i n f o r m a t i o n l e a d i n g t o t h e l o c a t i o n o f D a y .
T h e s i n g l e m o t h e r o f t w o c h i l d r e n w o r k e d a t t h e D o s R i o s r e s t a u r a n t i n M o n t e V i s t a .
C o p y r i g h t 2 0 0 2 b y T h e D e n v e r C h a n n e l . c o m . A l l r i g h t s r e s e r v e d . T h i s m a t e r i a l m a y n o t b e p u b l i s h e d , b r o a d c a s t , r e w r i t t e n o r r e d i s t r i b u t e d
R G S O s e a r c h e s h i l l s f o r m i s s i n g w a i t r e s s
M O N T E V I S T A - F e a r i n g t h a t s h e m a y b e d e a d , p o l i c e l a s t w e e k s e a r c h e d t h e o u t l y i n g c o u n t r y s i d e w e s t o f M o n t e V i s t a i n s e a r c h o f t h e b o d y o f D a n i c e D a y , t h e 1 9 - y e a r - o l d g i r l w h o h a s b e e n m i s s i n g f o r o v e r a m o n t h .
" W e ' r e c o n c e n t r a t i n g o n l o o k i n g f o r a b o d y , " s a i d U n d e r s h e r i f f C h a r l e s M a r t i n e z o n M o n d a y , w h e n a s k e d h o w t h e i n v e s t i g a t i o n i n t o D a y ' s d i s a p p e a r a n c e w a s g o i n g . " W e s t i l l h o p e s h e ' s a l i v e , b u t e v e r y t h i n g p o i n t s t o h e r b e i n g d e a d . . . A l l t h e l e a d s o f h e r b e i n g a l i v e h a v e f a i l e d . "
R i o G r a n d e S h e r i f f ' s O f f i c e d e p u t i e s s e a r c h e d b o t h t h e R o c k C r e e k a r e a a n d t h e R i m R o c k R a n c h a r e a w e s t o f M o n t e V i s t a s e v e r a l t i m e s o n f o u r - w h e e l e r s a n d i n f o u r - w h e e l d r i v e t r u c k s l a s t w e e k , M a r t i n e z s a i d .
B o t h a r e a s a r e a r e a s s u s p e c t V i c t o r B r a u n , D a y ' s l i v e - i n b o y f r i e n d , h a d a c c e s s t o f r o m h i s h o m e o n L a r i a t R d . n e a r C o u n t y R d . 2 8 , M a r t i n e z s a i d , n o t i n g t h a t B r a u n i s o n l y o n e o f s e v e r a l s u s p e c t s i n t h e d i s a p p e a r a n c e o f t h e s l e n d e r , b l o n d w a i t r e s s a t D o s R i o s .
" H e ' s a l w a y s b e e n a s u s p e c t , " M a r t i n e z s a i d , " b u t h e ' s n o t t h e o n l y s u s p e c t . W e h a v e t w o o r t h r e e s u s p e c t s . "
T h e u n d e r s h e r i f f c a l l e d i n t h e C o l o r a d o B u r e a u o f I n v e s t i g a t i o n l a s t w e e k a n d s a i d t h e C B I m a y r e t u r n t o t h e M o n t e V i s t a a r e a t h i s w e e k t o h e l p c o n t i n u e t h e i n v e s t i g a t i o n .
M e a n w h i l e , S a n L u i s V a l l e y C r i m e s t o p p e r s i s o f f e r i n g a r e w a r d o f u p t o $ 1 , 0 0 0 f o r i n f o r m a t i o n l e a d i n g t o t h e l o c a t i o n o f t h e m i s s i n g w o m a n , w h o i s t h e s i n g l e m o t h e r o f t w o c h i l d r e n .
R e w a r d o f f e r e d f o r i n f o r m a t i o n o n m i s s i n g m o m
M O N T E V I S T A - D a n i c e D a y ' s t w o c h i l d r e n a n d h e r p a r e n t s h a v e a s k e d S a n L u i s V a l l e y C r i m e s t o p p e r s t o h e l p w i t h t h e i r s e a r c h f o r h e r .
D a y , t h e 1 9 - y e a r - o l d s i n g l e m o m o f t w o c h i l d r e n , w a s l a s t s e e n J a n . 9 i n M o n t e V i s t a .
S h e i s 5 ' 5 " t a l l , w e i g h s a b o u t 1 0 5 p o u n d s , h a s b l o n d e h a i r a n d b l u e e y e s , a s w e l l a s p i e r c e d e a r s a n d a p i e r c e d l e f t e y e b r o w . W h e n l a s t s e e n , s h e w a s w e a r i n g b l a c k W r a n g l e r j e a n s a n d a w h i t e T - s h i r t .
W h e n s h e l e f t h o m e , a l l e g e d l y t e l l i n g b o y f r i e n d V i c t o r B r a u n t h a t s h e w a s g o i n g o u t w i t h f r i e n d s , b u t n o t r e v e a l i n g w h o , D a y l e f t b e h i n d h e r c a r a n d c e l l p h o n e , a c c o r d i n g t o r e p o r t s f r o m t h e M o n t e V i s t a P o l i c e D e p a r t m e n t . A r e w a r d o f u p t o $ 1 , 0 0 0 i s o f f e r e d b y S a n L u i s V a l l e y C r i m e s t o p p e r s , a n d p e r s o n s w i t h i n f o r m a t i o n m a y c o n t a c t 5 8 9 - 4 1 1 1 . C o n f i d e n t i a l i t y i s a s s u r e d a n d c a l l e r s n e e d n o t b e i d e n t i f i e d .
D E L N O R T E - A p r o b a t i o n o f f i c e r t o l d a j u d g e l a s t w e e k t h a t V i c t o r B r a u n , t h e 2 4 - y e a r - o l d M o n t e V i s t a m a n o n f o u r y e a r s p r o b a t i o n f o r b u r g l a r y , " i s d o i n g w e l l . "
B r a u n r e p o r t s i n o n a r e g u l a r b a s i s , i s c u r r e n t i n h i s r e s t i t u t i o n p a y m e n t s a n d i s m a i n t a i n i n g f u l l - t i m e e m p l o y m e n t , r e p o r t e d T e d d y A r c h u l e t a , B r a u n ' s P r o b a t i o n O f f i c e r .
" H e ' s d o i n g w e l l , y o u r h o n o r , " A r c h u l e t a t o l d J u d g e J o h n K u e n h o l d F e b . 6 i n R i o G r a n d e D i s t r i c t C o u r t .
A r c h u l e t a s a i d B r a u n h a d a l s o c o m p l i e d w i t h d r u g t e s t i n g a n d " e v e r y t h i n g i s c l e a n . " H e i s w o r k i n g f u l l t i m e a t h i s f a t h e r ' s p a i n t a n d b o d y s h o p , A r c h u l e t a s a i d .
J u d g e J o h n K u e n h o l d p l a c e d V i c t o r B r a u n o n p r o b a t i o n J u l y 2 5 f o r f o u r y e a r s , a l o n g w i t h a 6 0 - d a y j a i l s e n t e n c e i n t h e c o u n t y j a i l . E a r l i e r i n t h e s u m m e r , B r a u n h a d p l e a d e d g u i l t y t o t w o c o u n t s o f s e c o n d d e g r e e b u r g l a r y i n a p l e a b a r g a i n a g r e e m e n t t h a t d i s m i s s e d t h r e e o t h e r f e l o n y c a s e s p e n d i n g a g a i n s t h i m . A l l t h e c h a r g e s s t e m f r o m a s e r i e s o f b u r g l a r i e s a n d c h e c k f r a u d s B r a u n c o m m i t t e d i n M o n t e V i s t a d u r i n g t h e 2 0 0 0 C h r i s t m a s h o l i d a y s .
W h e n J u d g e K u e n h o l d p l a c e d B r a u n o n f o u r y e a r s p r o b a t i o n l a s t s u m m e r i n s t e a d o f s e n d i n g h i m t o p r i s o n , h e t o l d B r a u n h e w a s g e t t i n g a b r e a k .
" Y o u ' r e a c o c a i n e a d d i c t w h o ' s c o m m i t t e d a b u n c h o f f e l o n i e s , " K u e n h o l d s a i d w h e n h e s e n t e n c e d B r a u n . " Y o u s h o u l d n ' t e x p e c t a n y m o r e b r e a k s . I f y o u d o n ' t s h a p e u p , y o u ' l l g o t o t h e D e p a r t m e n t o f C o r r e c t i o n s . "
A s p a r t o f t h e s e n t e n c e , B r a u n w a s o r d e r e d t o p a y b a c k a p p r o x i m a t e l y $ 8 , 0 0 0 . T h e c o u r t o r d e r e d h i m t o p a y $ 1 5 0 p e r m o n t h a n d B r a u n h a s c u r r e n t l y p a i d $ 4 5 0 i n r e s t i t u t i o n , A r c h u l e t a s a i d . W h e n a s k e d h o w o f t e n B r a u n w a s t e s t e d f o r d r u g s , A r c h u l e t a s a i d t h e t e s t s w e r e c o n d u c t e d o n a r a n d o m b a s i s a n d " o f t e n e n o u g h t o c a t c h h i m i f h e ' s u s i n g d r u g s . "
A t t h e s e n t e n c i n g h e a r i n g l a s t s u m m e r , B r a u n ' s g i r l f r i e n d a n d m o t h e r o f t h e i r i n f a n t c h i l d , w a s p r e s e n t i n t h e c o u r t r o o m . A c c o r d i n g t o R u t h A c h e s o n , B r a u n ' s p u b l i c d e f e n d e r l a w y e r , t h e c o u p l e h a d s p l i t u p a n d B r a u n h a d f i l e d f o r c u s t o d y o f h i s d a u g h t e r . S h e t h e n a s k e d t h a t B r a u n b e g i v e n n o j a i l t i m e b e c a u s e o f h i s p a r e n t a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s .
T o d a y , t h e w h e r e a b o u t s o f B r a u n ' s g i r l f r i e n d , D a n i c e D a y , i s a m y s t e r y . A p p a r e n t l y s h e a n d B r a u n h a d r e c o n c i l e d b e c a u s e s h e w a s l i v i n g w i t h h i m a t t h e t i m e o f h e r d i s a p p e a r a n c e l a s t m o n t h . S h e d i s a p p e a r e d J a n . 9 a n d h a s n ' t b e e n h e a r d f r o m s i n c e . T h r e e w e e k s i n t o t h e i n v e s t i g a t i o n o f h e r d i s a p p e a r a n c e , t h e R i o G r a n d e C o u n t y S h e r i f f ' s O f f i c e a s k e d t h e C o l o r a d o B u r e a u o f I n v e s t i g a t i o n t o a s s i s t t h e m i n t h e c a s e . N o a r r e s t s h a v e b e e n m a d e i n t h e c a s e .
I s b r e a k p e n d i n g i n c a s e o f m i s s i n g 1 9 - y e a r - o l d g i r l ?
M O N T E V I S T A - A u t h o r i t i e s a r e t i g h t - l i p p e d , b u t i t a p p e a r s t h e r e m a y b e a b r e a k p e n d i n g i n t h e c a s e o f t h e 1 9 - y e a r - o l d g i r l w h o h a s b e e n m i s s i n g f o r a m o n t h .
" W e c a n ' t s a y a n y t h i n g , b u t I c a n t e l l y o u t h a t U n d e r s h e r i f f M a r t i n e z w i l l p r o b a b l y h a v e s o m e t h i n g t o s a y t o y o u g u y s i n t h e n e x t c o u p l e o f d a y s , " R G S O d e p u t y B o y d W h e e l w r i g h t s a i d T u e s d a y m o r n i n g w h e n p r e s s e d b y a r e p o r t e r .
U n d e r s h e r i f f C h a r l es M a r t i n e z w a s " o u t i n t h e f i e l d " w o r k i n g o n t h e c a s e a n d c o u l d n ' t b e r e a c h e d f o r c o m m e n t , d e p u t i e s s a i d .
P e r s i s t e n t r u m o r s a b o u t t h e c a s e h a v e b e e n s w i r l i n g t h r o u g h o u t t h e V a l l e y f o r w e e k s , e v e r s i n c e D a n i c e D a y , a 1 9 - y e a r - o l d w a i t r e s s a t D o s R i o s R e s t a u r a n t i n M o n t e V i s t a , d i s a p p e a r e d J a n . 9 . P o l i c e h a v e q u e s t i o n e d h e r b o y f r i e n d , V i c t o r B r a u n , b u t n o a r r e s t s h a v e b e e n m a d e i n t h e c a s e .
O n e o f t h e r u m o r s c i r c u l a t i n g a r o u n d t h e V a l l e y i s t h a t D a y ' s b o d y w a s f o u n d l a s t n i g h t a t N a v a j o S t a t e P a r k , b u t n o b o d y a t t h e A r c h u l e t a C o u n t y S h e r i f f ' s O f f i c e o r t h e S o u t h e r n U t e P o l i c e D e p a r t m e n t h a d a n y k n o w l e d g e o f a b o d y b e i n g d i s c o v e r e d r e c e n t l y a t t h e l a k e .
" W e w o u l d c e r t a i n l y k n o w a b o u t s o m e t h i n g l i k e t h a t , " s a i d a s p o k e s p e r s o n f r o m t h e S o u t h e r n U t e P o l i c e D e p a r t m e n t . " W e ' r e h e r e e v e r y d a y . "
L a s t w e e k f r u s t r a t e d l o c a l s h e r i f f ' s d e p u t i e s c a l l e d i n t h e C o l o r a d o B u r e a u o f I n v e s t i g a t i o n t o h e l p o u t i n t h e m i s s i n g p e r s o n c a s e . T h e R i o G r a n d e S h e r i f f ' s D e p a r t m e n t h a s p u t i n h u n d r e d s o f h o u r s o n t h e c a s e , s a y s U n d e r s h e r i f f C h a r l e s M a r t i n e z . U n d e r s h e r i f f M a r t i n e z s a i d h e ' s b e e n w o r k i n g o n t h e c a s e " " d a y a n d n i g h t n o n s t o p f o r t h r e e w e e k s . "
V i c t o r B r a u n , D a y ' s b o y f r i e n d w i t h w h o m s h e h a d b e e n l i v i n g a t t h e t i m e o f h e r d i s a p p e a r a n c e , h a s a g r e e d t o t a k e a p o l y g r a p h t e s t , p o l i c e s a i d . B u t a s o f l a s t w e e k , M a r t i n e z s a i d " h e k e e p s p u t t i n g i t o f f . " I t i s b e l i e v e d , b u t u n c o n f i r m e d , t h a t V i c t o r B r a u n t o o k a p o l y g r a p h t e s t e a r l y t h i s w e e k .
D a n i c e D a y ' s p a r e n t s w e r e c o n t a c t e d T u e s d a y m o r n i n g a n d s a i d t h e R i o G r a n d e C o u n t y S h e r i f f ' s D e p a r t m e n t h a v e n ' t c o n t a c t e d t h e m a b o u t a n y r e c e n t b r e a k s i n t h e c a s e .