A woman who went missing during a last-minute Thanksgiving shopping trip has been found dead, police have confirmed.
Jayna Lang, 46, was located a week after she disappeared in Colorado on November 24.
She had texted her brother, Eric Horvat, informing him she was heading to an outlet mall in Silverthorne, about an hour from her home in Littleton.
When she failed to show up for work the next week, her boss contacted her family.
After a week-long search and public appeals from both the police and her loved ones, authorities confirmed the tragic discovery on Monday.
Jayna was found deceased on Sunday night, a family member told Fox affiliate KDVR in Denver.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to The U.S. Sun that her cause of death was suicide, describing the news as a “sad update.”
Jayna’s Disappearance
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Jayna’s last contact was at 11:17 a.m. on November 24 when she texted her brother about her plans to visit the mall.
“She was supposed to be going to Silverthorne to look at the factory shops on Sunday,” Eric explained during the search.
“When her job called us and said she didn’t show up Monday through Wednesday, we started to worry. No one had heard from her or talked to her.”
Eric noted that Jayna’s disappearance was unusual, as she typically spoke with her aunt every day but had not made contact during this time.
“We were notified tonight with the sad news about my sister-in-law Jayna. We want to express our gratitude to everyone for the love and prayers during this difficult time,” Jayna’s sister-in-law shared.
On November 27, the Park County Sheriff’s Office posted Jayna’s photo and that of her SUV on Facebook, urging the public to call if they had any information.
The sheriff’s office and family also mentioned Jayna’s love for the outdoors and the mountains.
Car Sighted
Authorities later received a tip that Jayna’s SUV had been seen driving along Highway 6, between Breckenridge and Keystone. This raised concerns that she may have broken down or been involved in an accident and was stranded.
The search ended in tragedy on December 1, and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the next day that her body had been found.
Jayna’s family hinted at the sad news in a social media post before police confirmed her death.
Timeline of Jayna Lang’s Disappearance
- November 24: Jayna texts her family saying she’s heading to Silverthorne, an hour away from her home in Littleton.
- November 27: The local sheriff’s office and family post a missing person bulletin on Facebook, asking for help finding Jayna.
- December 1: Jayna’s body is discovered.
- December 2: The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office confirms she died by suicide.
“We were notified tonight with the tragic news about my sister-in-law Jayna,” said Stacy Laigo-Horvat, Jayna’s sister-in-law, on Facebook. “We are so thankful for the love and prayers from everyone during this difficult time. Thank you to all those who helped in finding her and for the efforts over the past week.”
“Please keep my husband in your thoughts and prayers.”
No additional details about Jayna’s death have been released.