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Body of missing girl Anndine Jones found in McElmo Creek, family says

Posted at 2:36 PM, Mar 17, 2019
and last updated 2019-04-04 14:47:13-04

ANETH, Utah — A body discovered Wednesday night in McElmo Creek is that of 4-year-old Anndine Jones, her family said in a statement released Thursday.

“Anndine ‘Cookie’ Jones will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her. She brought such joy to our family, and will forever live on in our hearts and memories. We would like to thank everyone near and far who supported our efforts in searching for our baby girl. At this time, we ask that everyone please respect our privacy as we grieve together as a family. Thank you,” the statement said in part.

Anndine disappeared on March 14 in the area of Aneth and Montezuma Creek.

Members of the Navajo Nation Police Department – Shiprock District,  the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office are investigating her death.

Read the full statement from Anndine’s family:

We, the family of missing four-year-old Anndine Jones, are heartbroken to announce that the search for Anndine has come to an end. After a 21-day search, her body was found along McElmo Creek, three miles south of our family’s home, by searchers Kevin and Christian Day of Layton, Utah at approximately 6:15 PM Wednesday April 3, 2019.

We have no further information at this time. The Navajo Nation Police Department – Shiprock District and San Juan County Utah Sheriffs Department are conducting the investigation.

Anndine “Cookie” Jones will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her. She brought such joy to our family, and will forever live on in our hearts and memories.
We would like to thank everyone near and far who supported our efforts in searching for our baby girl. At this time, we ask that everyone please respect our privacy as we grieve together as a family. Thank you.

ANETH, Utah – Search and rescue operations for missing 4-year-old Anndine Jones have been temporarily halted after three days according to the Navajo Divison of Public Safety.

Jones was reported missing Thursday afternoon and tracking led to McElmo Creek, which is near the family's home and flows into the San Juan River.

Searches continued Friday and Saturday with three search teams covering the San Juan River riverbank and boat teams covering around 24 miles of the river between Bluff and Aneth.

Over 200 volunteers have assisted in foot searches.

According to the Navajo Division of Public Safety, the decision to suspend search efforts came to allow resources to recuperate and reassess the situation.

The department is also assessing the impact of heavy metal contamination released into the water from Gold King Mine Thursday.

The community will continue to organize search teams and the Navajo Police Department is still investigating any leads from volunteers.

“We are thankful of the overwhelming amount of support and resources that we received throughout the search," said Chief of Police Phillip Francisco.  "We want to thank our local, state, federal partners, volunteers, and the donations made to helped us in covering the terrain in finding this little girl. We extend our gratitude and appreciation to the volunteers who covered miles of ground terrain along the creek and riverbed and to the community who donated food and supplies for the volunteers.”

Anyone with information or tips is asked to contact the Navajo Police Department Shiprock District at 505-368-1350/1351.