Searchers looking for a missing Grand Junction toddler on Sunday found the body of a small child who matched the description of 3-year-old Adelesia, who is believed to have wandered away from home early Saturday evening.
The Mesa County Sheriff’s Office said the coroner was working on identification and notification of next of kin and would release the name when that was complete.
“The family wants to thank the community for their support and compassion and has asked for privacy during this time,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement. “A Go Fund Me account has been sent up in the family’s name.”
Deputies responded to a call about a missing child at about 6:15 p.m., the sheriff’s office said. The family reported that Adelesia, who answers to the name of Addie Rae, had been last seen just 15 minutes before.
Authorities began to drain the Grand Valley Irrigation Canal earlier Sunday to help searchers look for the girl. As the water level dropped, searchers in a helicopter spotted something in the water and sent in deputies to investigate. The deputies found the child’s body not far from where Addie Rae disappeared.
Dozens of searchers looked for the little girl on Saturday until nightfall and then returned to the search Sunday morning.
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[Featured image: Addie Rae/Mesa County Sheriff’s Office]
