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MURRAY — More than two months ago, Kayelyn Louder was seen walking away from her Murray condo barefoot during a rainstorm, leaving behind her cellphone, keys and pet dog.
On Monday, her body was found almost completely submerged in the Jordan River, 5 miles away from where she lived.
While some details of the beginning and end of Louder's disappearance have emerged, police and family members are still struggling to understand everything in between that led to her death.
Why Louder, 30, left her home, how she died, how her body ended up where it did and how long it was there remain unknown.
For the moment, family members are setting unanswered questions aside to sort through their feelings.
"I think today they're mourning," Allen Robins, the family's private investigator, said Wednesday. "They're talking about the good times and the memories they have of Kayelyn. That's kind of their focus today, to go through that grieving process."
Louder's body was found Monday by West Valley City work crews while examining a drainage pipe near 3300 South and 1200 West. The body was almost entirely under water in the middle of the river, underneath a bridge and partially hidden by water plants, according to police.
The badly decomposed body was recovered by a dive team and taken to the Utah State Medical Examiner's Office, which positively identified it as belonging to Louder on Tuesday. It remained unclear when an autopsy will be complete, but toxicology analysis could take several months, according to Murray police officer Kenny Bass.
"At this point, it's waiting for their thorough examination, including toxicology, really before investigators have anywhere to go," Bass said.
During Louder's disappearance, an extensive volunteer search effort scoured areas along the stream near her residence, as well as parts of the Jordan River downstream. Bass said it is unknown why her body was not located during that time.
"I'm sure there's several places where it can be missed easily," he said. "I don't know why she wasn't seen before."
Robins, who is one of two private investigators hired by Louder's family, said he's hopeful the autopsy will shed some light on how Louder ended up dead 5 miles from her home.
"We followed up on a lot of leads and a lot of talk, but there's no solid information," he said. "The biggest question is: How did the body get that far? It's unusual. Not that it couldn't happen. It's just unusual."
In the days prior to her disappearance, Louder made three unusual 911 calls, reporting a fight near her home, and later that her apartment was being burglarized. No evidence of either incident was found, leading police to believe Louder may have been confused and possibly delusional.
Louder later expressed embarrassment to family members about the calls, Robins said. But it remains unclear whether she was on medication or whether her mental state could have contributed to her eventual disappearance.
She believed the facts that she stated. (From) the family's perspective, they see that something was awry. Whether that was external factors, we don't know.
–Allen Robins, the Louder family's private investigator
"She believed the facts that she stated" in the 911 calls, Robins said. "(From) the family's perspective, they see that something was awry. Whether that was external factors, we don't know."
Bass and Robins both said there is no evidence to suggest someone had intentions to hurt Louder.
Family members declined to speak to media Wednesday, but words of support were plentiful on a Facebook page created after Louder's disappearance.
"We will be forever grateful to everyone who helped us, from donations to time and prayers," Amy Fugal, Louder's cousin, wrote in a Facebook post. "I believe Kayelyn can see and feel how much love surrounds her and her family right now. … Our hearts are broken right now."
A candlelight vigil will be held at 5:15 p.m. Thursday at Murray Park, Pavillion 5.
