FARMINGTON – The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the disappearance of a Farmington woman who is a member of the local Mennonite community.
Sasha Marie Krause, 27, was last seen leaving her residence near the Farmington Mennonite Church on Road 5577 around 8 p.m. Saturday, the Sheriff’s Office said in a news release. Deputies were dispatched to Lamp & Light Publishers, where Krause works, on Road 5577 in Farmington around 3 a.m. Sunday in relation to her disappearance.
Detectives found Krause’s vehicle parked at the church, the original news release said. Objects Krause would have taken with her under normal circumstance if she had left willingly were found in her residence
In an update Thursday afternoon, the Sheriff’s Office said it spent all of Wednesday working with a search and rescue team hired by the Krause family to search the area surrounding the Mennonite Church. The search and rescue team is made up of trained individuals and a tracking dog.
On Wednesday, the Sheriff’s Office continued to urge people to only share information coming from its official social media pages or media releases: “Information spread quickly, and we are asking that any information not confirmed by our office to not be shared.”
The Sheriff’s Office said it was in the early stages of the investigation on Tuesday and is continuing to work closely with relatives and members of the Mennonite community to find Krause. Detectives are getting surveillance footage from local businesses and interviewing possible witnesses.
The news release also encouraged people to follow the Sheriff’s Office’s social media sites for “accurate and updated information.”
In a Facebook post, the Sheriff’s Office said it was “investigating every possible scenario,” as rumors and theories around Krause’s disappearance began to spread on social media.
The Sheriff’s Office added: “We are absolutely doing everything we can and will continue to be as transparent as possible without hindering our investigation.”
Anyone with information about Krause can call non-emergency dispatch at (505) 334-6622.
lweber@durangoherald.com