Authorities at the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office have identified the body that was found on a forest road in Northern Arizona as a New Mexico woman, Sasha Krause who was reported missing back in January 2020, according to a statement issued by the Sheriff’s Office.
KRQE reported that a camper who was in the area off Forest Service Road, located north of Flagstaff, Arizona, found a body on Feb. 21 at around 3:47, and called the authorities. The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office responded to the call and dispatched officers to the scene. Officers then transported the unidentified body to a medical examiner’s office in Flagstaff.
The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office contacted the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office on Saturday, Feb. 22, and according to KRQE, the victim that was found fit the overall description of Sasha Krause. Shane Ferrari, the San Juan Sheriff, said in the statement that officers from the San Juan Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to meet with the authorities at Coconino Sheriff’s Office, and the two sheriff’s offices would share the investigation and evidence.
“Fingerprints taken at the scene were matched with the Texas Motor Vehicle Department’s Driver license records to confirm her identity. The investigation is still ongoing by the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, along with San Juan County Sheriff’s Office. The Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office is continuing its investigation to determine the cause of death.” As the investigation is ongoing, no further details are currently available. read a statement issued by the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office.
The authorities conducted an autopsy, and it confirmed Krause’s identity.
Before the finding of Krause’s body, an investigation was conducted to find out what happened—Ferrari stated that it was not clear at the time whether Krause had voluntarily disappeared or whether it was a case of kidnapping. Ferrari said that ground, air, and canine units were dispatched to help with the investigation.
Ferrari said that the case was strange from the beginning, as Krause had gone missing from a Mennonite Church Community, according to Fox 10 Phoenix. He called the community secluded, and stated, “They have a business, they live on-site, and we never respond there very often for anything, so it struck us as very odd that we had someone missing, especially because you see them out in a group and having someone gone was very strange to us.”
Following her positive identification, both Sheriff’s Offices are working together to find and apprehend the person or persons responsible for the crime, according to Ferrari, in the statement issued by the sheriff’s office. Authorities are asking for the public’s assistance regarding the incident, and anyone with information is encouraged to contact authorities.
Paul Kaufman, Krause’s co-worker, said that the entire situation had been difficult for everyone working at the Lamp and Light Publishers, where the two of them worked, according to Fox 10 Phoenix. He described her as being an intelligent and pleasant person who was a hard worker.
“It is a very difficult experience for us. It shouldn’t have happened. It shouldn’t happen to anyone. [She is] a dedicated Christian, so yeah, she leaves a big hole with us.”
