Today the Aurora Police Department was notified by the Arapahoe County Coroner’s Office that the body that was discovered in the Olympic Park Pond has been positively identified as David Puckett. No traumatic injuries were found during the autopsy. Further investigation and studies need to be completed before the Coroner can determine a cause and manner of death.
The Aurora Police Crimes Against Children Unit is still actively investigating this incident to determine the circumstance surrounding David’s death.
Arapahoe County Coroner's Office News Release.
Sergeant Chris Amsler
Public Information Officer
Media Relations Unit
720.432.5095
Information previously released on January 3rd, 2017:
On Tuesday January 3rd, 2017 at 11:10 p.m. the Aurora Police Department conducted the first and final press briefing of the day on the grounds of the Yale Elementary School located at 16001 East Yale Avenue. The following information was shared:
Over 150 law enforcement personnel have assisted with the search in finding David over the past few days such as the FBI, Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office, NCMEC, Arapahoe Rescue Patrol, Aurora Fire Rescue Technical Rescue Team and the Search and Rescue Dogs of the United States (SARDUS) . Additionally, over 200 citizens from our community and beyond volunteered in our search effort.
Jefferson County Sheriff Bloodhound "Jessie" was on the ground searching by 8:00 p.m. on the night David went missing. NCMEC bloodhounds searched throughout this investigation as well. Last night, we called in SARDUS who deployed a total of six human remain detection, trailing, and air scent dogs today and yesterday. One of those dogs expressed interest in a small pond in Olympic Park. The Aurora Fire Rescue Technical Rescue Team was deployed and found the body of a child inside the pond underneath the ice. At this time we cannot give positive identification.
Chief Metz has informed the Puckett Family of this information, and they are also aware positive identification will take some time.
We are treating the Olympic Park pond as a crime scene. Crime Scene Investigators and the FBI will be conducting a thorough investigation to determine what happened.
This area has been heavily search by law enforcement officers, citizens and the Puckett Family numerous times since David went missing. There was never any evidence someone fell into the pond or through the ice. At this time, our search efforts have not stopped as we have not positively identified the body as David's.
We will not be conducting any further press briefings. All new updates will be published via our social media sites on Twitter and Facebook.
The family has requested privacy and asked we notify the media they do not wish to be interviewed at this time. The Puckett family has specifically asked we share their deepest gratitude and appreciation to everyone who has helped in the search for David.
At this time the family has not authorized any fundraising efforts. If an authorized fundraising site is organized we will share that information via our social media sites.
Thank you again to everyone who has continued to show your support, and your efforts in #FindingDavid.
Officer Crystal McCoy
Media Relations Unit
Desk: 303-739-6038
On-Call PIO: 720-432-5095
Information previously released on January 2, 2017:
On Monday January 2, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. the Aurora Police Department conducted a second press briefing on the grounds of the Yale Elementary School located at 16001 East Yale Avenue. The following information was shared:
We would like to continue to thank the public for their continued support in helping us find David, and again thank you to the media who have played an important role in helping us find David.
We began with answering questions from today's earlier press briefing, and provided the following answers:
David was confirmed to have been seen by someone other than his family earlier on Saturday.
David went missing approximately one hour prior to the Aurora Police Department being notified. The reason for the delay was the family began searching for David in locations they believed they might find him.
David has three other juvenile siblings living in the home.
The family has been cooperative with police, and investigators have thoroughly searched the home multiple times.
We are speaking with all known sex offenders in the area as part of our investigation.
The FBI coordinated road canvasses today. This is just another tool we use to help bring awareness to finding David.
A Jefferson County Sheriff's Office Bloodhound responded immediately to the scene the night David went missing.
Arapahoe Rescue Patrol and officers, have checked bodies of water in the area.
We are asking for the public to call our tip lines immediately if you believe you have found something of interest to this investigation. Additionally, we are asking everyone to not share or report those items on social media as they are not monitored 24/7, and we would like an officer to respond immediately.
The public can help by physically searching their homes, automobiles, and any structures on their property where a child may be able to hide. Children may not respond to you by simply calling their name, so its important to physically search these areas.
The Metro Crime Stoppers Denver (MCSD) have previously offered a $2,000.00 reward, with an additional $3,000.00 special reward. Today, The Aurora Police Reward Fund has contributed $5,000.00 bringing the total reward fund up to $10,000.00. You can call CrimeStoppers at 720-913-STOP or text DMCS at 274637 and remain anonymous. See the flier with reward information here #FindingDavidReward.pdf.
Tomorrow our press briefings will be held at a different location, and we will provide the time and new location via Twitter tomorrow morning.
Again, we would like to thank our local, state and federal law enforcement partners including the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) for their continued supporting in #FindingDavid.
Officer Crystal McCoy
Public Information Officer
Officer of the Chief of Police
Media Relations Unit
DESK: 303-739-6038
On-Call PIO Line 720-432-5095
Information previously released January 2, 2017:
On Monday January 2, 2017 the Aurora Police Department conducted a press briefing on the grounds of the Yale Elementary School located at 16001 East Yale Avenue. The following information was shared:
We confirmed missing 13 year old Fabian Xavier Rosales as found safe at a friends home.
We have been in constant consultation with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) reference the issuance of an Amber Alert since New Years Eve. Due to the passage of time, the impending weather, and out of an abundance of caution and to leave no stone unturned, CBI has issued an Amber Alert today at approximately 2:40 p.m.
Today marks three days in our search in #FindingDavid.
Today officers continued to conduct thorough neighborhood canvasses, and interviews.
We are looking for residential and commercial videos. If anyone has video they believe would be beneficial to this investigation please call our tips lines at 303-739-1865, 303-739-1868 or 303-739-1870.
Aurora Police Chief Nick Metz and the entire command staff have been and continue to be heavily involved in the investigation.
The Aurora Police Department would like to thank our state, local and federal partners who are assisting us today, and have been since the beginning such as:
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force (RMSSTF)
Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF)
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC)
Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
Westminster Colorado Police Department
Aurora Public Schools (APS)
We would like to thank the citizens who have organized in assisting us in the search for David. Today we have deployed the NCMEC bloodhounds, and are asking citizens to stop their voluntary searching. This is in an effort to not interfere with the bloodhounds doing their jobs.
APS has been actively involved since the beginning of this investigation. They sent out alerts to parents of students at Dartmouth Elementary where David attends school. They have also prepared to have mental health professionals on hand to assist students, parents and staff as needed.
The Aurora Police Department will provide press briefings in the morning and evening from this point forward. We will notify everyone of the times and locations of these press briefings via our Twitter @AuroraPD and Facebook @AuroraCOPD accounts.
Previously released on January 1, 2017:
On Saturday December 31, 2016
at approximately 5:45 p.m. Aurora Police officers responded to a residence in
the 15700 block of East Amherst Place in reference to a missing at-risk six-year-old
boy.
Officers learned the missing
boy’s name is David Puckett. David is believed to have wandered from his home. He is considered at-risk due to his young age.
He has wandered from his home in the recent past, and was located by citizens.
David is a white male,
approximately 3’02” tall, and 55 pounds. He has brown hair, and brown eyes. He
was last seen wearing green camouflage pants, a black t-shirt, black boots with
a little bit of orange trim, and a light girls Army style tan jacket.
Since David has been reported
missing, at least three Reverse 911 calls have been issued. The reaching over 27,000 Aurora residents within a 2 ½ mile radius from his home.
In addition to Aurora Police
patrol officers searching for David, we activated our Emergency Response Team
(ERT), and Strategic Response and Tactics (SRT) Team. The Major Crimes Unit,
and Crimes Against Children Unit are also actively involved in this
investigation with the assistance of The National Center for Missing and
Exploited Children (NCMEC), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. NCMEC also provided two bloodhounds for the search today.
The Aurora Citizens Police
Alumni Association, which has over 400 volunteers, deployed their Citizens
Missing/Abducted Response Team (CMART) immediately last night, and today.
We want to thank our local
law enforcement partners for providing immediate assistance in the search for
David last night and today.
The Denver Police Department
Air One Helicopter equipped with an infrared system, provided air support last
night while a Bloodhound from The Jefferson County K-9 Team was on the ground
searching with Arapahoe County Sheriff’s deputies.
We want to thank the public
for the tremendous outpouring of support, and participation in sharing our
social media messages. You can “Like” us here on Facebook and “Follow” us on Twitter to stay in the know.
We ask everyone to continue
to monitor or Facebook and Twitter accounts for updates. We will continue to provide
updates as new information comes available including when and where assistance
from the public is needed in this search.
In an effort to relieve the
911-system, three tip lines have been temporarily established to receive
information from the public. These lines will be available 24/7 until further
notice. If you attempt to call the tip lines, and do not get an answer please
call 911 if it is emergency, or the non-emergency police dispatch line at
303-627-6011. Please call any of the below listed numbers if you have
information related to our search for David, or believe you have seen him:
303-739-1870
303-739-1865
303-739-1868
After consulting with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, an Amber Alert will not be issued as this time due to this case currently not meeting the requirements. You can read more about the purpose and requirements of the Amber Alert on the CBI website at https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cbi/amber-alert .
CrimeStoppers is offering a reward up to $5,000.00 to anyone with information regarding this case. Please call the Aurora Police Department or Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-STOP (7867). Tipsters to Crime Stoppers can remain anonymous and are eligible for a reward.
Once again, thank you to
everyone who have, and continue to help in our search to find David.
Officer Crystal McCoy
