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Search called off for missing 10-year-old Thornton girl Kiaya Campbell; Death investigation underway

Posted at 7:06 AM, Jun 08, 2017
and last updated 2017-06-09 18:13:56-04

THORNTON, Colo. -- The search for a Thornton girl who went missing Wednesday night during a rainstorm was called off by the Thornton Police Department after a child's body was found not too far from where the missing girl was last seen. 

During a press conference early Thursday evening, a spokesperson for the department said the body of a child was found at about 5:30 p.m. near 128th Avenue and Jasmine Court by a resident in the area, who alerted authorities by calling 911.

The body was found approximately two miles from where 10-year-old Kiaya Campbell was last seen. Police were reluctant to identify the child as Campbell, only saying they would wait for the Adams County Coroner's Office to positively identify the child. 

An active death investigation is now underway. 

Approximately 23 different agencies from across the state worked together by searching trails, open spaces and even bodies of water to find the girl. An AMBER Alert was also issued by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and the police department even recruited the public to help in the search.

"This is an active investigation and we want to have a successful conclusion and a successful prosecution if we do find the person responsible," the spokesperson said.  

Police said Campbell and a 15-year-old acquaintance were walking from Campbell's father's house to a shopping center near 136th Avenue and Colorado Boulevard around 7 p.m. Wednesday when the two apparently became separated in the rain, police said. Kiaya was last seen near 129th and Colorado.

You can view the Thornton Police Department press conference in the video below:  

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