BAILEY, Colo. — For the first time since 17-year-old Maggie Long was found dead inside her burned home, the Park County Sheriff’s Office has spoken about the incident.
The sheriff’s office has not issued a statement since Long went missing on Dec. 1, the same night her house caught fire.
Long was found dead in the home. The sheriff’s office is investigating the fire as arson and her death as a homicide.
There are no suspects in custody.
Sheriff’s office chaplain Leo Suazo said the community is rocked by all of this.
“We take care of each other, we reach out,” Suazo said. “It’s a big void here and we feel that.
“I can assure you that they are working tirelessly to bring those who have done this to justice.”
Investigators haven’t released a lot of information about the case, but Suazo said there’s a reason for that.
“If we give out too much information, those that are out there that are still at large get information that they don’t need. It’s not to keep it from the community I assure you,” Suazo said.
The biggest question most have right now is about safety.
With a suspect still on the loose, the sheriff’s office previously said there was no danger to the community.
“Should you be concerned, are you concerned when you go down into Denver? Things can happen, they happen every few minutes,” Suazo said.
“You should be vigilant. If you’re seeing things that aren’t ordinary in your community, you need to call.”
During the Platte Canyon High School hostage crisis in 2006, Long’s sister was one of the girls held hostage. The community and the Long family are no strangers to tragedy.
Anyone with information about Long’s death is asked to call the sheriff’s office. Suazo said no amount of information is too small.
A celebration of life will be held at the high school on Sunday.