Body of Missing Girl Is Found in Kiln at Friend’s Home

An 11-year-old girl’s decomposing body was discovered in a kiln at a home she was going to visit when she vanished nearly a month ago, the police chief said Friday.

Traci Rene Conrad’s body was found after the home’s residents called police Thursday evening to report that “there was an odor being emitted from the kiln,” Police Chief Brian DeCuir said.

Townspeople praying for better news moaned when they heard DeCuir tell reporters, “The coroner’s office is confident the deceased person discovered last night is Rene Conrad.”

They moaned again when DeCuir said Rene’s body was stuffed in a 3-foot-high, 2 1/2-foot-wide kiln used to fire ceramics.

The kiln was covered by a brick-lined lid that the chief said probably weighed 30 to 50 pounds. Molds used in making ceramics were stacked on the lid, along with other items, he said.

The home and the yard had been searched and the residents were questioned shortly after Rene disappeared Feb. 25, the chief said. However, the inside of the kiln apparently was not searched then.

Originally, police thought that Rene was not seen after leaving to visit a friend at that house less than two blocks from her home. But DeCuir said officers now have information that Rene went to her friend’s residence, returned to her home, then left again.

No arrests have been made.