The body of a missing Utah teen who was last seen wandering around a random house “confused” has been found.
The Farmington Police Department discovered the remains of 19-year-old Mia Casto near Rudd Creek on Sunday afternoon after she was reported missing around 12:40 p.m. on Saturday.
Casto was last seen on surveillance footage from her home dressed in a long coat, baseball cap and slippers, holding what appeared to be a violin case as she walked toward Brad MacDonald’s house around 12:30 p.m. Friday.
Although it’s unclear exactly how he died, Farmington Police Chief Eric Johnsen said. FOX 13 News that Casto appeared to suffer a ‘series of falls’ and they believe his death was an accident.
The body of 19-year-old Mia Casto was discovered Sunday afternoon near Rudd Creek, Utah, after she was reported missing on Saturday.
The teen was last seen on home surveillance footage entering Brad MacDonald’s home around 12:30 p.m. on Friday.
MacDonald said KSL-TV She initially thought the teenager was her daughter’s friend, but her family soon realized that no one knew her.
After talking to 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 left,” MacDonald recalled.
‘She walked to the side of our house and then they saw her crossing the road. Up there is a trailhead that heads into the countryside.
Police officers soon arrived at his house, but Casto was nowhere to be found.
MacDonald told the outlet that she did not know she had been reported missing until neighbors and friends informed her on Saturday.
“I felt guilty all day yesterday knowing that she was here in our house, and maybe we could have stopped her or helped her more,” he said.
Although it’s unclear exactly how he died, Farmington Police Chief Eric Johnsen told FOX 13 News they believe Casto suffered a “series of falls” and believe it was an accident.
On Saturday, the teen’s mother, Andrea Treseder, took to Facebook to share urgent 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 is confused. Please contact 911 if you see her or know anything,” Treseder said, adding that “she loves animals.”
In an effort to help search for Casto, MacDonald and his wife gathered friends to help find her Sunday morning.
That same day, search teams, K-9s, aerial drones and two helicopters found his deceased body, the City of Farmington Police Department said.
After hearing the horrible news, MacDonald said: ‘It was very emotional. I think all of us, especially those of us who went up to look for her this morning, none of us knew her at all.
“But you feel a connection to her when you’re there looking for her and then you find out she had passed away.”
TO GoFundMe The page was created to help the teen’s loved ones during this difficult time.
‘My brother’s family lost their dear, sweet, loving daughter Mia so unexpectedly. “She is a brilliant and talented violinist,” said Mary Ann Jordan.
‘A calm, vibrant, sweet and adorable fun-loving woman! A smart, compassionate and loving daughter, niece, granddaughter and friend!
‘Our time was reduced more than we wanted or could expect. Their loss is truly felt in communities around the world! We will never forget her!! We are reeling from his loss!! We will miss her so much!!’
As of Tuesday morning, more than $5,000 had been raised for his grieving family.