Cop: Body in park may not be missing Drexel Hill woman
UPPER DARBY >> The size of the shoe found on the remains of a woman found in Ridley Creek State Park does not match the shoe size of a Drexel Hill woman missing since June 2014.
Amanda De Guio, 25, was reported missing by the family and was never located despite an intensive search by friends and family, police and a private investigator.
Her mother, Joanne De Guio, confirmed Pennsylvania State Police asked for information on her daughter after the remains were found and was waiting for more details from police.
The Pennsylvania State Police issued additional information Monday on the human remains found by a hiker and his girlfriend on New Year’s Day.
According to Trooper John O’Donnell, the crime investigative unit determined the remains were of a white female, late teens to late 20s, roughly 63 inches tall, slender build, with prominent teeth and jaw, with either light brown or blonde hair and wearing a size 9 shoe.
“Right now, given Amanda’s shoe size is 5 or 6 and findings are a size 9 we don’t think it’s her,” said Upper Darby Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood. “We won’t know for certain until the autopsy.”
The Delaware County Medical Examiner’s investigative administrator, Brian Razzi, confirmed the remains were transported to the county morgue for autopsy but could not say when results would be determined on a positive identity.
According to Razzi, the cause of death has not been determined and he could not say how long it would take to reach a conclusion.
“Basically they were skeletal remains wearing three sets of winter clothing,” Razzi said, estimating the time of death at 2014.
On Monday Nicole De Guio, Amanda’s 26-year-old sister, expressed her appreciation for the recent publicity on the possibility the remains were those of her sister, but believes Chitwood’s comments were premature and inappropriate.
“I appreciate any media attention to my sister’s case because it brings awareness,” Nicole De Guio said. “But I am so upset because the autopsy report is not back yet. In my heart I don’t think it’s her. The description doesn’t fit my sister and he shouldn’t have commented about his assumption and gut feeling. If he did, why didn’t he tell us? Right now my family needs prayers, support, respect and privacy, we don’t need negativity.
“In my heart I believe she’s alive. I think we’ll find her and she’ll come home soon. I appreciate what the police have done but there are some issues I have with them. My main concern is finding my sister and getting her home.”
Kevin Ryan, a private investigator hired by Amanda’s father, John De Guio, says the family has a common goal to find Amanda and bring her home.
“Right now we believe Amanda does not want to be found,” Ryan said. “We want to find her. We know she was alive at the end of summer because people we interviewed in Kensington said she knew there was a warrant for her arrest before that was made public.”
According to Chitwood, the Pennsylvania State Police is conducting the investigation on the human remains found in Ridley Creek State Park.
“State police will probably use DNA for a positive identification of the remains found,” Chitwood said.
According to Chitwood, Lt. William Kane is the lead investigator on the De Guio case.
Amanda is 5 feet 3 inches tall and weighs approximately 120 pounds. She has several tattoos, an image of Italy and the word “Tommy” on the right side of her rib cage, the letters “MF” on the inside of her lower lip and the letters “SC” on her left ring finger.