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Whit Johnson ReportingLt. Darin Durfey, Utah County Sheriff's Office: "That individual led us to a small geographic location where we were able to find and recover the body."
The search for a missing nine-month old baby in Southern Utah County is over tonight. Searchers combed dozens of acres ever since learning of some disturbing information.
The baby's remains were found in the foothills of West Mountain this afternoon, but the investigation is far from over.
It's been an exhausting week for all of those involved in the search for this baby girl. They've now finally found her remains, thanks to a citizen tip, but still her parents are on the run.
Authorities almost called it a day, but then the search for the body of a nine-month old baby girl in Southern Utah County came to an end.
Lt. Darin Durfey, Utah County Sheriff's Office: "She was in a black plastic garbage bag in a shallow grave about 12 inches down."
She was found in the foothills of West Mountain. Authorities believe she was killed and then left there by her parents, Baldemar Espino and Yudit Lopez, who then left the country for Mexico with their two other young children.
Their truck was found at a Greyhound station in Provo.
Lt. Darin Durfey, Utah County Sheriff's Office: "We covered 96 acres today, 50 of which was done very methodically. We'd been over that area five times in the last five days."
A citizen tip with a more specific location led to the recovery of the girl's remains.
Lt. Darin Durfey, Utah County Sheriff's Office: "I would say most people are very satisfied and relieved that we were able to recover the body. And now hopefully after the autopsy has been done she can have a proper burial."
Exactly how the girl died and where her parents are is still unknown, but authorities are now a major step closer to solving this murder mystery.
The parents of the girl are considered murder suspects at this time, but authorities say they have no reason to believe their other children are in danger. They're still hoping more people will come forward to help locate the parents. If you know anything, you're asked to contact the Utah County Sheriff's Office.
