Recovered; May 19, 2010

Police in Greeley, Colo. have confirmed the community's worst fears: The identity of a body found in a drainage ditch just a mile from Kayleah's house is in fact the 12-year-old girl who went missing March 28, 2010.

"The information provided by the Weld County Coroner's Office says her death does not appear to be accidental in nature, and a homicide investigation is being conducted by Greeley Police with assistance of the FBI," said Greeley Police Chief Jerry Garner in a press conference May 20, 2010.

Cops say dental records helped identify the body found by a worker on May 19, 2010, partially submerged in a ditch behind a printing business in west Greeley. Chief Garner says that area had been searched twice in the past and that dogs used in that search didn't hit on anything.

"We have recovered items of evidence ... from several locations, including the ditch," said Chief Garner. As far as what that evidence entailed, Chief Garner replied, "There are some investigative keys we need to keep to ourselves at this point."

Authorities say they will be re-interviewing subjects in light of the recent discovery.

"We still have a wide range of people of interest to us," said Chief Garner. "It opens up lots of possibilities."

Officials say the autopsy has been completed, but no information is known as far as time of death is concerned, as well as the manner in which the young girl was tragically murdered.

"The death occurred ... some time ago," said Chief Garner. "The cause of death has been determined. It's an investigative key that I don't see being released any time soon."

Cops say they want to keep their cards close to their chest in the homicide investigation since there are so few clues – and so few credible tips received.

"We are already working toward a successful prosecution of whoever did this to this girl," said Chief Garner. "We want to make this prosecution successful. We're going to say even less than we normally would as to not make the prosecutor's job harder."

When asked by reporters about reported surveillance video of Kayleah at the Greeley Mall on the day she disappeared, Chief Garner could not confirm 100 percent that it was the missing child.

"There were people in the Greeley Mall parking lot – one of them might have been Kayleah," said Chief Garner. "But the picture isn't good enough to confirm it's her; that's supposition."

Chief Garner is hopeful that the discovery of Kayleah's body will inject life into the case that baffled the city of Greeley for almost two months.

"Since the announcement that a body has been found, that has started some calls to us," said Chief Garner. "It has kind of reawakened people calling us again, so we're following up on those [tips].

Chief Garner says he has spoken with Kayleah's mother and that she is "reacting as any mom would react in a situation like this."

"It seems like there's a tiny bit of relief [for Kayleah's mom] bringing a little bit of closure to this," said Chief Garner. "We promised her we don't give up on cases like this."

If you know anything about the tragic murder of 12-year-old Kayleah Wilson, call our Hotline right away at 1-800-CRIME-TV.

Remember, you can remain anonymous.

-- Jenny Allen, AMW Staff