Close friends and faraway supporters of Kayelyn Louder mourned Tuesday upon news that a body pulled from Jordan River in West Valley City was that of the missing Murray woman.
Police in Murray and West Valley City confirmed the body, found Monday during an inspection of drainage pipes, was identified as Louder.
"I believe Kayelyn can see and feel how much love surrounds her and her family right now," her cousin Amy Fugal wrote on a Facebook page that lit up with photographs of roses colored purple — Louder's favorite color — and hundreds of messages of condolence. Friends and family of Louder had rallied scores of volunteers to search for her since she disappeared Sept. 27.
Her family released a statement shortly after the news that the body had been identified.
"We are broken hearted with the news of Kayelyn's body being found, but are also grateful to know where she is. This has been an extremely difficult 9+ weeks for all involved. We hope that through all of our efforts that she has been able to see how much she is loved and cared for," the statement read.
Louder, 30, left her condo barefoot that afternoon and walked into the rain, leaving behind her beloved dog, her phone, her keys and car. Earlier that day and the night before, Louder had placed mysterious 911 calls, first reporting a fight at a wedding and then reporting an intruder was in her apartment. Police said they found no evidence of either crime.
Before she disappeared, Louder was seen on surveillance video talking agitatedly, apparently to herself, investigators have said.
However, police said, Louder had no known history of mental illness.
As of Tuesday night, investigators did not know how she ended up in the Jordan River near 3300 South and 1200 West.
"The cause of death is undetermined as this moment," officers wrote.
Police spokeswoman Roxeanne Vainuku said Monday that Louder's body was spotted at 11:10 a.m. by a city crew that had come out to inspect drainage pipes that had been installed in the area.
The body was mostly submerged and obscured by plant debris that had lodged against a concrete bridge support, Vainuku said.
Medical examiners identified the body in an autopsy Tuesday afternoon.
A vigorous social media campaign to search for Louder drew interest from across the country, and a GoFundMe account — previously to help with the family's search — had raised more than $8,200 as of Tuesday night.
In its statement, the Louder family thanked all the volunteers.
"We are forever grateful to the volunteers who have helped us in countless ways over the past 9 weeks. We are amazed at your love and dedication to our family," the statement read.
A candlelight vigil was planned for 5:15 p.m. Thursday at Murray Park.
@erinalberty
Lennie Mahler | The Salt Lake Tribune An area beneath an overpass at 3300 South and 1300 West along the Jordan River where police discovered a body of unknown age and gender in West Valley City, Utah, Monday, Dec. 1, 2014.
Lennie Mahler | The Salt Lake Tribune An area beneath an overpass at 3300 South and 1300 West along the Jordan River where police discovered a body of unknown age and gender in West Valley City, Utah, Monday, Dec. 1, 2014.
Lennie Mahler | The Salt Lake Tribune An area beneath an overpass at 3300 South and 1300 West along the Jordan River where police discovered a body of unknown age and gender in West Valley City, Utah, Monday, Dec. 1, 2014.
Lennie Mahler | The Salt Lake Tribune An area beneath an overpass at 3300 South and 1300 West along the Jordan River where police discovered a body of unknown age and gender in West Valley City, Utah, Monday, Dec. 1, 2014.
