Boise Police say the body of 18-year-old Sierra Bush was found Saturday evening just south of Idaho City in Boise County. Bush had been reported missing in late September.
"She was found by a passerby in Boise County, and the circumstances of how and where she was found also appear suspicious to us," says Sgt. Justin Kendall with Boise Police. "She didn't end up there, likely, on her own."
The investigation into Sierra's death is ongoing, but, for now, Bush's family is coping with the death of their beloved daughter.
Bush's mother and stepfather, Mary Helen and Bart Green, released this statement Tuesday:
"Sierra was a happy and cheerful young lady. She had a 4.0 GPA her entire senior year and maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.82 throughout high school. She scored 1800 on the SAT. She sought out the Honors College at Boise State University and was accepted into the program. She applied for numerous scholarships and was awarded enough scholarship money, based on merit not financial need, that we only had to come up with approximately $500 for her tuition. She had joined the Creative Writing Club and the Beekeepers Club at BSU. Every indication was that she was thoroughly enjoying the start to her freshman year at BSU. When her mother last spoke to her Sierra was happy and in good spirits, there was not the slightest sign of any trouble whatsoever. Sierra was very talented individual and had so much to offer the world in her future years.
We want to thank all of the people who helped look for Sierra and for the countless hours that they put into it. We want to thank the law enforcement community and especially the Boise Police Department. There were many, many officers and detectives working very hard on Sierra's case, most of which occurs out of sight and cannot be known while the investigation is ongoing. We hope and pray that the law enforcement community will be able to charge, prosecute and successfully convict the perpetrator or perpetrators who are responsible for this crime and bring them to justice."
Bush was a student a Boise State University at the time of her disappearance.
University President Dr. Bob Kustra released this statement to the media and Boise State students:
“The Boise State campus community joins me in grieving the loss of one of our students today. Sierra Bush, known by many on campus as Simon, was an active and involved engineering and Honors College student who left an indelible mark on many students, faculty and staff. It is difficult to lose any member of the Boise State family and our hearts go out to the Bush family and friends who are also mourning this loss. We stand ready to support those in need of services as well as to aid investigators in any way possible as they search for answers to this tragedy.”
There is a gathering for Bush's family and friends planned for Wednesday, Oct. 26 inside the Jordan AB Ballrooms at the Boise State Student Union Building. The event starts at 6:00 pm.
Police ask anyone with information surrounding Bush's disappearance and death to report to Crimestoppers at 343-COPS.
