A 16-year-old girl’s body was found in a freezer earlier this year, although she was never officially reported missing.
In January, a couple relocating to a new home in Colorado uncovered a horrendous scene: the head and hands of Amanda Leariel Overstreet.
The residence, located on the 2900 block of Pinyon Avenue, was previously owned by Overstreet’s parents.
When they moved, they left the freezer behind, and the house in Grand Junction was subsequently sold to new owners.
According to the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office, Overstreet is believed to have vanished at the age of 16, nearly two decades ago in 2005.
Her identity was confirmed recently, with the Sheriff’s Office issuing an official statement on October 11.
Despite having been missing since 2005, it appears Overstreet’s family did not report her disappearance.
A statement from the Sheriff’s Office stated: “On January 12, 2024, the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call regarding a suspicious incident in the 2900 block of Pinyon Avenue.
“Upon arrival, Deputies found the head and hands of a human had been discovered in a freezer by someone who arrived to claim the free appliance offered by the new owner of the recently sold home.”
The statement continued: “On October 11, 2024, the Mesa County Coroner’s Office released the identity of the victim of the Pinyon Avenue Homicide case. Through DNA testing, the victim is identified as Amanda Leariel Overstreet.
“Amanda is believed to have been approximately 16 years old at the time of her disappearance. Overstreet has not been seen or heard from since April 2005. Amanda Overstreet was the biological daughter of the previous owner of the home.
“The circumstances surrounding her disappearance remain under investigation, as well as ongoing forensic testing of evidence.
“There is no record that Amanda Overstreet was ever reported missing.”
Emphasizing the lack of any missing person report for the teenager, Mesa County Sheriff’s Office public information officer, Wendy Likes, told CPR News: “A child went missing and there’s no record that anyone reported her missing, and that’s very sad.”
Discussing the ongoing investigation, Likes added: “We want to be sure that it’s a thorough investigation, that we get all the details and the facts right.”
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact The Compassionate Friends on (877) 969-0010.