Kansas City police confirmed the body found inside Toni Anderson’s car has been identified as Anderson.
The female body found inside of the vehicle pulled from the MO River has been positively identified as Missing Person Toni Anderson 4/5/1996 pic.twitter.com/D7B5yveTom
— Kansas City Police (@kcpolice) March 15, 2017
The 20-year-old had been missing for nearly two months. The discovery of her body is, of course, a tragic end for friends and family desperate to find her.
41 Action News spoke with two of Anderson's best friends Wednesday afternoon, who said, while they are in mourning, they're also incredibly relieved and at peace.
"When he said there's no trauma found on her body, it felt like tears of joy to just like know, that was something we worried so much about because she's just so undeserving of it," said Roxy Townsend, Toni Anderson's longtime friend. "She's the best person I know. And so to know that nothing bad happened to her, it's just such a relief."
When asked how Anderson could have ended up in the river, family says they've been told it was an accident. They also told 41 Action News they were told there was no trauma on Anderson's body, leading them to believe she wasn't kidnapped or hurt. While police haven't confirmed either, Police say it's an open investigation and still don't suspect foul play.
"We had nightmares about that. So knowing that that wasn't the case was really relieving," said Haley Hennier, Anderson's friend."
"The answers we've been given are an answer that the family is at peace with and they're willing to accept and I think it should just kind of be left at that. I think we should allow the family this time to grieve. I mean they lost their baby girl," she said.
Family told 41 Action News that Anderson's celebration of life will be in Wichita on Tuesday. Details on time and exact location are expected to be announced by family soon.
EXTENDED COVERAGE
Toni Anderson's parents thankful for answers after body found
Mother confirms Toni Anderson's body found inside car in Missouri River
Man who found Toni Anderson's car explains how it could have been missed
Friends hold prayer vigil for Toni Anderson, father hopeful with new KCPD lead
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Josh Helmuth can be reached at josh.helmuth@kshb.com
