Authorities Confirm Body is That of Missing Woman

WICHITA, Kan. _ Investigators confirmed Saturday that the white female found near Toronto, Kan., earlier this week is Emily Sander, the 18-year-old Butler Community College student missing since Nov. 23.

Sander’s body was positively identified by a forensic orthodontist, El Dorado Police Chief Tom Boren reported in a statement issued by e-mail.

Her body was found Thursday. Near the body, investigators found the bedspread that had been missing from Israel Mireles’ El Dorado motel room.

The search continues for Mireles, 24, who has been named as the suspect in Sander’s death. Boren said investigators are re-interviewing witnesses, family and associates of Mireles and his 16-year-old girlfriend, who is believed to be with him.

A forensic examination and autopsy have been performed, but those results plus the cause of death have been sealed by Butler County Attorney Jan Satterfield. She declined comment on Saturday.

Sander’s grandfather, Clem Sander, said family members learned Friday that the body was Emily.

“That’s what we were praying for: get her found, get a closure on this and take it from there,” Sander said.

But knowing does little to ease the pain, he said.

“It’s going to be a bad day today,” he said. “You’ve got to face reality here…it’s tough.”

Funeral arrangements are pending.

___

(c) 2007, The Wichita Eagle (Wichita, Kan.).

Visit the Eagle on the World Wide Web at http://www.wichitaeagle.com/

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.