Now, authorities confirm that her remains were found in Park County -- and they've identified Melissa Miller, Meyer's former roommate, as a person of interest in the case. Miller's not talking, but a video has surfaced in which she denies any wrongdoing and says she tried to kill herself over her friend's disappearance. See the video and more below.
As we've reported, Meyer, known by her friends as Annie, spoke with someone over the phone on February 23, then texted her employer about not coming to work two days later. She was officially reported missing on March 4.Miller subsequently told members of the Wheat Ridge Police Department that Meyer had left with a woman named Cathy. Later, though, Miller is said to have stopped cooperating with investigators.
Within days, police found two missing vehicles associated with Meyer -- a pickup and a Toyota Rav4. But afterward, developments proved elusive until July 4, when, according to the WRPD, the Park County Sheriff's Office learned a group of people had found what seemed to be human remains near a cabin where they were staying.This past Monday, July 8, Wheat Ridge reps were notified about the discovery, and forensic analysis confirmed the remains as Meyer.
What's described as "significant animal activity around the body" may have compromised some evidence. Hence, there's been no determination about either the manner or the cause of death thus far -- but suspicion is strong that foul play may have been involved.
To that end, a number of Meyer's friends cornered and questioned Miller without revealing to her that her responses were being recorded on video shared with 7News. In addition to using clips in its coverage, the station has posted raw footage of the conversation, in which Miller said, "You guys are friggen' ripping me, and I did nothing. I loved Annie more than any of you.... I tried to kill myself. I don't want to live without Annie."
Miller also maintained that she'd been in possession of the Rav4 and told police where to find it; the department says this information was actually provided by a neighbor. Miller added that "I dropped her off, Annie, at Sixth and Wadsworth. She wasn't feeling well. She got a bloody nose, and they [Meyer and Cathy] were going to go to dinner, so I dropped her off.She can also be heard saying, "I'm as lost as you guys. I tried to kill myself. I don't even know what the fuck to do. I mean, Annie, was my whole life."
Look below to see the 7News report and the video of Miller, followed by our previous coverage.
Continue for our previous coverage of the Leann Meyer story. Original post: 10:05 a.m. March 14: On February 23, Wheat Ridge resident Leann Meyer, nicknamed Annie, had a phone conversation with a friend. That's the last time anyone has spoken to her.
The Wheat Ridge Police Department hasn't called her disappearance a result of foul play thus far. But the search for her has grown as the story has gotten national attention. And in recent days, there have been not one but two developments in the case -- the discovery of two vehicles belonging to Meyer. Details, photos and videos below.
In a March 5 release, the WRPD sent out a copy of Meyer's driver's license photo...
...and noted that she communicated with her employer at U.S. Bank via text message on February 25. After that, silence.The release also included basic identifying information about her -- five-feet seven-inches tall, 130 pounds, blue eyes, brown/gray hair -- and the two missing vehicles. The first was a 1995 silver Toyota pickup with Colorado license plate 688DJH. The second: a 2009 silver Toyota Rav4 with the Colorado plate 975YUH.
The next day, officers circulated photos of vehicles like the ones Meyer owned. Here's the pickup....
...and here's a shot resembling her Rav4: Again, there was no reference to a crime having been committed. But as noted in a March 8 piece by ABC News, one of numerous national outlets to pick up the story, investigators admitted to puzzlement over the refusal of Meyer's roommate, Melissa Miller, to meet with them in person. Miller reportedly called in sick for Meyer on February 22 (the February 25 text was also about not coming to work), and she told cops over the phone that Meyer had left with a woman named Cathy. However, she hasn't returned to the apartment they'd shared since March 4, when police were first notified that Meyer was missing.Then, yesterday, a break.
Continue for more about the Leann Meyer search, including another photo and two videos. Police in Wheat Ridge announced that they'd received a tip regarding the location of Meyer's pickup -- and they subsequently found in in a parking lot near West 72nd Avenue and Sheridan Boulevard. The truck was immediately impounded and slated for analysis to determine if technicians could find evidence pointing to her whereabouts.
The Rav4 was still gone at that point, but the WRPD had a new image to share -- this one showing surveillance footage showing Meyer behind the wheel:
A short time ago, authorities in Wheat Ridge released their fourth update. Another tip brought officers to the 3700 block of Marshall Street, where they located the Rav4. It was promptly sealed and transported to the police vehicle storage area, where it "will be searched and forensically processed," the latest release states.An added note: "Initial investigation would indicate that the Rav4 had been parked in that location for several days."
There's still no assertion that Meyer was taken against her will. But US Bank is offering a reward of $8,000 for information that leads to the location of Meyer, with Crime Stoppers chipping in up to $2,000 more. Anyone with information about her whereabouts is encouraged to phone the Wheat Ridge Police Department tip line at 303-235-2947 or Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867.
Look below to see two videos -- the aforementioned ABC News report from March 8 -- a date that just happens to be Meyer's 52nd birthday. Also on view is a piece from KARE-TV in Minneapolis-St. Paul, where she was raised. The latter features word about Meyer's mother, who is coming to the Denver area tomorrow to join in the search. The station notes that at times during the interview, her mom refers to her in the past tense.
More from our News archive: "Kara Nichols search: Mom says teen model was involved in drugs, prostitution."
