Authorities in Colorado have identified human remains discovered in a freezer as those of a 16-year-old girl who went missing in 2005.
The disturbing discovery was made on January 12, when the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call about a “suspicious incident” in Grand Junction, located about 240 miles west of Denver. According to the sheriff’s office, the remains were found by someone who had gone to pick up a free freezer from a recently sold home.
Essential Survival Gear You Need Before the Next Hurricane Hits
Upon arrival, deputies confirmed that the freezer contained human remains—specifically the head and hands of a person, which were uncovered by the individual retrieving the appliance.
Following an extensive nine-month investigation, authorities confirmed the identity of the victim on Friday through DNA testing. The remains were those of Amanda Leariel Overstreet, who was believed to have been 16 years old when she vanished in April 2005.
Investigators revealed that Overstreet was the biological daughter of the home’s previous owner. However, the circumstances of her disappearance and death remain under investigation, with forensic testing ongoing.
Officials noted that Overstreet was never officially reported missing.
In a statement, the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office clarified that the house is now owned by someone completely unconnected to the case. “The home where this tragic discovery was made has been sold, remodeled, and is under new ownership. We ask that the public respect the privacy of the current owner and their neighbors and refrain from driving by or taking photographs of the property.”
The investigation into Overstreet’s death is still ongoing.
