Body of Missing Colorado Woman Kaylee Russell Found in Submerged Vehicle, Family Confirms

The search for missing 20-year-old Kaylee Russell came to a tragic end Thursday after her body was found inside her overturned vehicle submerged in a Larimer County canal, according to a family friend who confirmed the discovery.

Russell, of Evans, Colorado, was last seen around 6 p.m. Sunday at the Loveland/Johnstown Park-and-Ride near Highway 402 and Interstate 25. She had experienced a flat tire that evening, and her father met her there to help her replace it. Afterward, Russell left the area intending to drive to a friend’s home in Pierce — but she never arrived.

Vehicle Located in Canal; Body Found Inside

Around 2 p.m. Thursday, first responders from the Colorado State Patrol, Larimer County Sheriff’s Office, Evans Police Department, and Colorado Bureau of Investigation converged on a canal northeast of Timnath Reservoir after reports of a vehicle in the water.

Divers located a black 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan, upside down in the Larimer and Weld Canal. CSP confirmed the vehicle matched Russell’s, bearing Colorado plate 7880903. A body was visible inside the submerged SUV.

Although the Larimer County Coroner has not yet issued a formal identification, a family friend told 9NEWS the body found was that of Kaylee Russell.

The location where her vehicle was discovered is roughly 13 miles from where she was last seen.

Family Confirms Death on GoFundMe

Russell’s family publicly confirmed her death on a verified GoFundMe page, writing that Kaylee “has been found and unfortunately, she did not survive.” Her aunt, Renee Shook, said investigators informed the family at the scene that the body inside the vehicle was Kaylee.

The GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help with funeral expenses and family support during the unexpected tragedy.

Multi-Day Search After Endangered Missing Alert

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation issued an endangered missing person alert on Wednesday after concerns grew when Russell’s phone stopped sharing location data on Sunday evening. Search parties, community volunteers, and multiple law-enforcement agencies had spent hours searching areas near Johnstown and Timnath before the vehicle was discovered.

Crash Under Investigation

The Colorado State Patrol’s Vehicular Crimes Unit is leading the investigation into the single-vehicle crash. Details regarding how Russell’s SUV left the roadway and entered the canal remain under review.

More information will be released following official identification by the coroner and completion of the ongoing investigation.