Tragic update in hunt for missing Utah teen who was last seen walking into random home ‘confused’
The body of a missing Utah teen who was last seen walking into a random home “confused” has been found.
Farmington police discovered the remains of 19-year-old Mia Casto near Rudd Creek on Sunday afternoon after she was reported missing around 12:40 pm on Saturday.
Casto was last seen on surveillance footage from her home, wearing a long coat, baseball cap and slippers, walking to Brad MacDonald’s home around 12:30 p.m. Friday.
Although it is unclear exactly how she died, Farmington Police Chief Eric Johnsen said FOX 13 News that Casto appeared to have suffered a “series of falls” and they believe her death was accidental.
The body of Mia Casto, 19, was discovered Sunday afternoon near Rudd Creek, Utah, after she was reported missing on Saturday
The teen was last seen on surveillance footage walking into Brad MacDonald’s home around 12:30 p.m. Friday.
MacDonald told it KSL TV that he initially thought the teenager was a friend of his daughter, but his family soon realized that no one knew her.
After talking with his 16-year-old daughter for a while, Casto suddenly left the house.
“I told my daughter to follow her while I called the police, so she followed her and walked out,” MacDonald recalled.
“She walked a little bit to the side of our house, and then they watched her cross the road. There’s a trail that goes up to the backcountry up there.”
Police officers soon arrived at his home, but Casto was nowhere to be found.
MacDonald told the outlet he didn’t know she had been reported missing until he was notified by neighbors and friends on Saturday.
“I felt guilty all day yesterday just knowing she was here in our house, and we could have maybe stopped her or helped her more,” he said.
While it’s unclear exactly how she died, Farmington Police Chief Eric Johnsen told FOX 13 News they believe Casto suffered a “series of falls” and it was an accident.
On Saturday, the teen’s mother, Andrea Treseder, took to Facebook to urgently share information about her daughter’s disappearance.
‘Looking for my daughter Mia Casto. She is missing and has not been seen since the afternoon of November 1 in Farmington. She’s confused. If you see her or know anything, please contact 911,” Treseder said, adding that “she loves animals.”
In an effort to help find Casto, MacDonald and his wife gathered friends Sunday morning to help find her.
That same day, her deceased body was found by search crews, K-9s, drones and two helicopters, Farmington City police said.
After hearing the terrible news, MacDonald said: “It was very emotional. I think all of us, especially those of us who went looking for her this morning, none of us knew her.
“But you feel a connection with her when you’re up there looking for her and then you find out she’s passed away.”
A GoFundMe page was created to help the teen’s loved ones during this challenging time.
‘My brother’s family so unexpectedly lost their sweet, sweet, loving daughter Mia. She is a smart, talented violinist,” said Mary Ann Jordan.
‘A calm, lively, sweet and cute, cheerful woman! An intelligent, compassionate and loving daughter, niece, granddaughter and friend!
‘Our time became shorter than we wanted or could ever expect. Her loss is truly felt in communities around the world! We will never forget her!! We are reeling from her loss!! We will miss her very much!!’
More than $5,000 was raised for her grieving family Tuesday morning.