CO CO - Kaylee Russell, 20, Loveland/Johnstown PnR, 30 Nov 2025

[steeltowngirl]

My heart goes out to this family. Her dad had helped her change the tire to the donut. He will likely forever second-guess himself about not following Kaylee to a gas station or repair shop, or to safety at her intended destination of her friend’s house.

JMO

 

[PrairieWind]

This seems a bit odd to me. If she was headed to Pierce, why take Prospect? She would have been far better going up to Mulberry/14. Maybe I am unclear where she was coming from.

 

[PrairieWind]

I believe 402 might be the east-west section of road just south of Loveland labeled "18". There is a "county Road 13C that crosses it but I've also seen a map that lists Weld County Road 13 as "Colorado Blvd".

Here is the google map of Weld County Road 13. Weld County Rd 13 · Colorado

UPDATE: Found it - yes "18" is actually 402 and that runs straight west out of the park and ride she was last seen at. Good map here: Small picture clip of the 2 ponds attached. Loveland Johnston Park and Ride The speed limit on 402 is 65 mph. If she was driving that on a donut, there's a solid chance it could have blown out as I had stated earlier (they are just not designed for those speeds). I hope it's not her, but I'm deeply worried that it is.

the canal where it appears her car is located in not right along the highway. Why would she have gotten off on a small canal/ditch road?

 

[GraceG]

the canal where it appears her car is located in not right along the highway. Why would she have gotten off on a small canal/ditch road?

The info you had in your post from me was from the ORIGINAL search location (found to be no car there) and not where her car was ultimately found. Sorry if that was confusing, the initial search for the empty pond much further south sort of threw everyone off track.

She likely took highway 25 north, then turned off of it onto Prospect headed east, which would eventually have taken her north towards Pierce.

E Prospect Rd · Colorado

Colorado

www.google.com

This news article (with photo) states the car was found in the canel off of Larimer County 1 East (east if Tinmouth, CO). Not the highway. Car belonging to missing 20-year-old woman found in body of water near Timnath

 

[PrairieWind]

The info you had in your post from me was from the ORIGINAL search location (found to be no car there) and not where her car was ultimately found. Sorry if that was confusing, the initial search for the empty pond much further south sort of threw everyone off track.

She likely took highway 25 north, then turned off of it onto Prospect headed east, which would eventually have taken her north towards Pierce.

E Prospect Rd · Colorado

Colorado

www.google.com

This news article (with photo) states the car was found in the canel off of Larimer County 1 East (east if Tinmouth, CO). Not the highway. Car belonging to missing 20-year-old woman found in body of water near Timnath

Ok, I think I see now where the car was found. She must have turned off of Prospect/rd44 north on the County 1 north. This would make sense because Prospect doesn't get you to Hwy 85 to get to Pierce. Which again, begs the question why she got off on Prospect at all instead of the Mulberry exit to get to Pierce. Strange. Then must have just lost control of her car and went into the canal. Then upside down, in the water, she was unable to escape. That would have been horrific.

 

[dietcherrydrpepper]

Ok, I think I see now where the car was found. She must have turned off of Prospect/rd44 north on the County 1 north. This would make sense because Prospect doesn't get you to Hwy 85 to get to Pierce. Which again, begs the question why she got off on Prospect at all instead of the Mulberry exit to get to Pierce. Strange. Then must have just lost control of her car and went into the canal. Then upside down, in the water, she was unable to escape. That would have been horrific.

Your idea of route nails the how (Prospect → Rd44/CR44 → CR1 north to canal), but that's exactly why the why screams anomaly. Maps confirm Mulberry/US-14 is direct/safe to Pierce (~20mi NW via 287); Prospect adds 10mi east detour through fields—illogical on donut spare post-flat, especially with known frame/alignment issues.

No weather/mechanical forces redirect northeast; CSP's 'left turn fail → embankment' strains physics on 15ft barrier (local eyewitness). Parents omitting route choice while pushing 'grabbed her' buys 4 days diversion. GoFundMe erases dad post-body find.

The gofundme
"
UPDATE: Kaylee has been found and unfortunately, she did not survive. I will continue to collect donations to help with upcoming funeral expenses and additional financial support for Rebecca as she navigates this incredible loss.
.........

Rebecca is the sole provider for herself, but she has put her entire life on hold to search for her daughter. She is unable to work while she coordinates search efforts, speaks with authorities, and follows every possible lead. The financial strain is growing, and she needs help to cover basic expenses like food and gas so she can continue her search without worrying about her own survival."

• Given Richard Russell’s early reported role (phone contact, tire change), his complete omission here flags an internal story fracture or a deliberate narrative shift post-tragedy, possibly indicating tension, blame, or unshared full truths.

 

[borndem]

No where in there are you more than a quarter mile from a house and the roads have significant traffic at all times. If she just ran off the road she would have been found immediately.

Good points.
Just so sad.

 

[Unalienable Rights]

Coroner determines cause in death of missing Colorado girl Kaylee Russell

Kaylee Russell was reported missing after last being seen dropping her father off at a Park-N-Ride.

www.newsnationnow.com

On Monday, the Larimer County Coroner’s Office announced it has determined the cause of death for Kaylee Russell, following an autopsy conducted on Dec. 5.

The coroner determined that her death was caused by the crash, with the official cause of death released as a combination of blunt-force injuries and exposure to the cold. The manner of death was an accident.

 

[steeltowngirl]

Your idea of route nails the how (Prospect → Rd44/CR44 → CR1 north to canal), but that's exactly why the why screams anomaly. Maps confirm Mulberry/US-14 is direct/safe to Pierce (~20mi NW via 287); Prospect adds 10mi east detour through fields—illogical on donut spare post-flat, especially with known frame/alignment issues.

No weather/mechanical forces redirect northeast; CSP's 'left turn fail → embankment' strains physics on 15ft barrier (local eyewitness). Parents omitting route choice while pushing 'grabbed her' buys 4 days diversion. GoFundMe erases dad post-body find.

The gofundme
"
UPDATE: Kaylee has been found and unfortunately, she did not survive. I will continue to collect donations to help with upcoming funeral expenses and additional financial support for Rebecca as she navigates this incredible loss.
.........

Rebecca is the sole provider for herself, but she has put her entire life on hold to search for her daughter. She is unable to work while she coordinates search efforts, speaks with authorities, and follows every possible lead. The financial strain is growing, and she needs help to cover basic expenses like food and gas so she can continue her search without worrying about her own survival."

• Given Richard Russell’s early reported role (phone contact, tire change), his complete omission here flags an internal story fracture or a deliberate narrative shift post-tragedy, possibly indicating tension, blame, or unshared full truths.

Is this post indicating a suspicion of foul play?

 

[PrairieWind]

Is this post indicating a suspicion of foul play?

Given the autopsy cause of death, I think its just an accident. she maybe have gotten off at Prospect either because she got confused where she was or because the thought she should get off the interstate since she had the donut tire and needed to go a little slower. Somehow in making the turn north, she lost control. Maybe the tire failed or she hit an icy patch.

 

[GraceG]

Given the autopsy cause of death, I think its just an accident. she maybe have gotten off at Prospect either because she got confused where she was or because the thought she should get off the interstate since she had the donut tire and needed to go a little slower. Somehow in making the turn north, she lost control. Maybe the tire failed or she hit an icy patch.

I agree, I think that even if she was unaware of the dangers of driing at higher speeds on a donut the vehicle might have been giving her some handling problems with the donut so she decided to exit earlier so she could resume the trip at a slower speed. But after exiting the highway/freeway, the tire then either blew further down the road or there were control issues if she braked suddenly and she lost control. I hope that she was unconscious from the blunt force trauma (likely) and didn't suffer. She will be missed by so many.

 

[steeltowngirl]

Given the autopsy cause of death, I think its just an accident. she maybe have gotten off at Prospect either because she got confused where she was or because the thought she should get off the interstate since she had the donut tire and needed to go a little slower. Somehow in making the turn north, she lost control. Maybe the tire failed or she hit an icy patch.

Agree.
I was confused by this sentence in @dietcherrydrpepper ‘s post. It almost sounded like a suspicious of foul play:

“Parents omitting route choice while pushing 'grabbed her' buys 4 days diversion. GoFundMe erases dad post-body find.”