A Wyoming mother of two who shared a cryptic message on social media shortly before she disappeared has been found dead after her vehicle went through a guardrail on Casper Mountain Road.
Kandice Gunter, 30, was expected to collect her nine- and six-year-old children from an after-school care facility in Casper on October 29.
When she failed to arrive, her family became concerned and contacted police.
Her vehicle was discovered on Sunday morning after first responders were called to the area at about 9:20 a.m.
Emergency crews found the vehicle down the hillside with Gunter inside. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Gunter’s family had raised the alarm after her sudden disappearance. Her sister, Kayla Gunter, told authorities that she had spoken with Kandice at 10:41 a.m. the day before she was reported missing.
Kayla also said Kandice had shared a cryptic message on Facebook several days earlier: ‘Success for me happens in silence.’
The sisters usually spoke about three times a day, but Kandice’s calls stopped after Wednesday. Kayla said her sister had not indicated that she was struggling or unwell.
Kandice Gunter, 30, was reported missing on October 29 after she failed to collect her children from an after-school care facility (Photo courtesy: Casper Police Department)
Kandice shared a cryptic message on Facebook several days before she disappeared
The family filed a missing-person report with the Casper Police Department several hours later because Kandice would not normally have failed to collect her children, Kayla said.
‘That’s why I started freaking out,’ Kayla told the Cowboy State Daily. ‘It’s totally out of character for her not to show up to get her kids,’ she added.
Gunter had moved from Nevada to Casper about a month earlier so she could remain near her children.
Although she did not have a large circle of friends in Wyoming, Kayla said the move appeared to be working out well for her sister.
Her former husband was also living at the home and helping care for the children, according to the outlet.
Kayla said Kandice gave no indication during their last conversation that she intended to leave or cut contact with her family.
The Division of Criminal Investigations said Gunter’s last known location was in Natrona County.
Police later traced her phone to Gillette on Friday, about 126 miles from Casper.
Gunter’s sister, Kayla Gunter, said she had spoken with Kandice the day before her disappearance and that nothing in the conversation suggested she intended to take such a step (Photo courtesy: TK Kentopp)
Gunter’s last known location was in Natrona County. The Casper Police Department said her phone was located in Gillette on Friday (Photo courtesy: TK Kentopp)
Before authorities confirmed that Gunter had been found, her sister had appealed publicly for help and shared an emotional message: ‘Lord, please just give me a sign my sister is alive. Please.’
Gunter was driving a gray 2016 GMC Canyon with Wyoming temporary plates, according to the Casper Police Department.
Officials described her as a white woman who stood 5 feet 7 inches tall.
She had black hair, blue eyes and several tattoos, including a butterfly tattoo on her neck.
The Casper Police Department has asked anyone with information about the circumstances surrounding Gunter’s disappearance and death to contact police.
