RANGELY | A body discovered near County Road 23 on Wednesday has been positively identified as that of Rangely resident Laurie French, 34.
According to a Facebook post from the Rangely Police Department on Sunday, Sept. 12, French was last seen on the evening of Tuesday, Sept. 5. Her body was found on Wednesday, Sept. 16, at which time the Rio Blanco County Sheriff’s Office and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation took the lead on the case.
On Facebook, citizens have raised questions about how the search for French was conducted, or if enough was done to locate her.
Rio Blanco County Sheriff Anthony Mazzola told the HT on Thursday that until official toxicology reports are received, his office cannot answer additional questions about the case in order to avoid jeopardizing the ongoing investigation.
French’s body was discovered by searchers from the Rio Blanco County Sheriff’s Office along with a Mesa County Sheriff’s Office K9 team, located about 50 yards off the road at approximately mile marker 1.5 on County Road 23 on Wednesday, Sept. 16.
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) was requested to process the scene and conduct the investigation surrounding French’s death.
At this time, foul play is not suspected, but further toxicology testing is being conducted by the Rio Blanco County Coroner.
The family of Ms. French has been notified.
Details of the timeline of the case will be released upon the completion of the investigation by the CBI and the Rio Blanco County Coroner’s report.
