A spokeswoman for the family of Misty Upham has confirmed that a body found in a Seattle, Wash. ravine on Thursday afternoon is, as was widely suspected, that of the 32-year-old Native-American actress and activist.
According to Seattle-based filmmaker Tracy Rector, a longtime friend of Upham's, it was Robert Upham, the missing woman's uncle and the organizer of a search party that went out looking for her three days ago, who, along with two other searchers, found her body.
"We waited at the site where the team found the body," said Rector, who was also part of the search party, late Thursday evening. "It took about five-and-a-half hours to confirm. Then we gathered around her body to say prayers and now we're all gathered at the church."
On Oct. 10, her father said in a statement that Upham suffered from bipolar disorder and was off her medication when she disappeared, leading him to believe that she may have been suicidal.
On Thursday night, however, Rector said the family felt differently: "The family has stated that, after seeing the body, they still do not feel that Misty Upham committed suicide."
Rector also indicated that the family is enraged at the Auburn Police Department for what they say is a lack of assistance in the search to locate Upham.
"First and foremost," she said, "the family wants everyone to know that the Auburn police did not help with this situation at all. They refused to help. When she disappeared on Oct. 5, the family knew something was seriously wrong - it was out of character for her to be gone so long without being in touch - and they repeatedly went to the police, who insisted there was no cause for concern."
