Greeley police believe they know who killed 12-year-old

Greeley Police Chief Jerry Garner said he and his officers know who murdered 12-year-old Kayleah Wilson in 2010. Garner said detectives just need to gather enough evidence to prove it.

“We don’t have any doubts,” he said, “but there are standards of proof we have to meet.”

Friday marked the seventh anniversary of the discovery of her body.

In March 2010, Kayleah’s name became a household word when she vanished as she made her way to meet a friend at the Greeley Mall before the two were supposed to attend a birthday party together. When her mother, April, hadn’t heard from her daughter later that night, she called police.

At first, Greeley police believed Kayleah might have run away from home, although they discarded that theory early on. What followed was a massive search of the area, one that included support from the FBI and national child search agencies.

The case, which garnered national headlines, was a major one for the Greeley Police Department.

“Any unsolved homicide is a big deal,” Garner said, “but the murder of a 12year-old girl is particularly onerous.”

Law enforcement set up roadblocks and canvassed neighborhoods, but for almost two months they were unable to find the girl.

It was a ditch rider who found her by chance, early on May 19, 2010, when he turned on the water in a west Greeley irrigation ditch. Her body was rolling in the water at the base of a 10-foot waterfall in the ditch.

Six days later, hundreds of people flooded downtown Greeley for a memorial service in her honor.