Family rejoices Utah woman’s safe return amid unanswered questions

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Relieved loved ones of Danielle Staley—the Holladay woman found safe after being missing for two weeks—hurried to reunite with her Sunday evening, as her stepfather deferred questions on circumstances surrounding her mysterious disappearance.

“We barely got to California,” said Slade Holtry. “We need to talk together to discover what happened.”

A release from the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office announced Staley had been located and was uninjured, but did not release details.

“We just want to hang out as a family and rejoice,” Holtry said. “We’re so relieved. I’m going to eat my first real meal in two weeks.”

In early November, Staley vanished, and her belongings, including a purse and backpack, were left on a California beach about 40 miles south of San Jose.

She was last seen near the location, and soon after her disappearance, investigators did not rule out foul play.

Family members reportedly had concerns about her boyfriend, describing him as abusive and manipulative.

Her stepfather said the boyfriend was not with Staley Sunday evening, and Holtry praised news coverage of the case.

“That’s the only way we found her,” he said. “Somebody saw the news and told her she was all over the news, and she contacted the sheriff’s department. Thank you to all the media.”

Statement from Danielle’s family:

“At this time, we are not releasing specific details as we focus on Danielle’s well-being. Our family asks that there is a continued focus on domestic violence victims, and that people bear in mind the sensitivity of circumstances like my sister’s.

Thank you to the Aptos community for the incredible outpouring of support, for sharing her information, and for coming together to help bring awareness to her case.

Thank you to the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office for their unyielding dedication to finding my sister safe, and for their tireless search for Jeanne Burke, as well as other missing persons.

I also want to show gratitude to the Missing in America Network, and Jaz in particular for her advocacy at any time of the day or night, aiding our family through this hard time and giving us much needed direction.

Additionally, I’d like to highlight that November is Native American Heritage Month, and support for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women is very much needed.

The entire family is forever grateful for the kindness and unity shown during this difficult time. Community is everything.”

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