A Colorado woman who vanished seven years ago has been found deceased.
According to The Denver Post, a man found a bone on September 10, while sorting through items in a detached garage at a home in Lochbuie.
In late October, police said the bone had been identified as Terri Ann Ackerman, 56. She vanished in August 2018, while living at the Polar Street home with her husband, Delbert “Dale” Ackerman.
Terri’s stepson, Sean Ackerman, who found the bone, said he does not think his father had anything to do with Terri’s death.
After her disappearance, police carried out extensive searches in and around Ackerman’s home, but were unable to locate her, despite using drones and search dogs.
“The biggest thing that doesn’t make sense to anybody is how cadaver dogs were out there three times and missed a body that was on the other side of a very thin piece of metal,” Sean said.
Sean said he made the discovery after his 70-year-old father died, and he inherited the property. He had been sorting through junk for mementos before placing the residence for sale.
So far, a cause of death has not been revealed.
Family members criticized search efforts over the years, claiming that the Lochbuie Police Department failed to provide answers.
”I get it,” her daughter, Ambyr Carolus, said in 2018, the Greeley Tribune reports. “People disappear. They leave, they come back. But to not come back for three months and there not be a trace of anything?”
Delbert Ackerman told police that he left the home while Terri was still in bed when he left for work that morning. When he returned home, he could not find her, but located her phone, wallet, and other personal items.
According to People Magazine, police said Terri had bipolar disorder and depression, and had been upset the night before she disappeared. Family members told police that she had been concerned over babysitting her grandchildren.
Meanwhile, a GoFundMe fundraiser has been established to help the family with funeral and memorial expenses.
Check back for updates.
For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast.
[Feature Photo via GoFundMe]
