BROWN COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The Brown County Sheriff’s Office reports a tragic ending to a nearly two-day search for a missing teen in Brown County.
Authorities say 17-year-old Daniela Velazqeuez’s body was found Tuesday morning in a rural area in the Town of Wrightstown, and it’s believed she died of hypothermia.
“We do think this is going to be an accident,” said Capt. David Poteat, who says official confirmation will come from an autopsy that should be performed on Friday.
The sheriff’s office had been looking for Velazquez since her mother reported her missing Sunday afternoon.
Authorities say the missing person report came in just after the teenager’s abandoned vehicle was found in the ditch on Blake Road in the town of Wrightstown at about 2:30 p.m. Sunday.
They say her body was found about a quarter mile away in a field off of Day Street, at about 11:15 a.m. Tuesday.
“She was definitely not dressed for the weather and being outside in conditions, much like they are today, for any extended period of time is going to result in fatality in a short period of time,” said Poteat.
Poteat says Velazquez’s mother last saw her at their home at about 10:30 p.m. Saturday. He says she last made a phone call at 11:23 p.m. that night.
Authorities believe the teen’s car went into the ditch on Blake Road between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. early Sunday, when it was about 12 degrees out, with a wind chill as low as negative four degrees.
“She was just driving around, which was basically what she told her mother before she left was ‘I’m going for a drive’,” said Poteat.
Poteat says when her vehicle was found, her shoes and phone were found outside with her keys and wallet still in the vehicle.
“Out in the cold, an article of clothing being taken off, that is not uncommon with people who are suffering from hypothermia,” said Poteat. “At some point, they seem to have a sensation of being hot or maybe the clothing was just wet and thought, ‘If I take this off, maybe that will help me warm up.’”
The sheriff’s office searched about 37 acres of property between Sunday morning and Tuesday morning. They used snowmobiles, ATVs, dogs and drones, according to Poteat.
“We still would not be able to see the body from that video footage even knowing where she was recovered, and that is basically just because of branches, shadows and the terrain at the time,” said Poteat.
Authorities say they have no reason to expect this was anything other than a tragic accident.
The Brown County Sheriff’s Office says anyone with information about the case should call (920) 448-4200.
