Woman missing since last May identified by her remains

The Denver Medical Examiner’s Office has identified skeletal remains found near Cherry Creek in October as belonging to 56-year-old Marcie Fairchild, an Indigenous woman who was last seen in May. The remains were discovered near Cherry Creek Drive South and South Holly Street on Oct. 28. Fairchild’s daughter, Somm’r Fairchild, expressed hope of finding her alive in December, stating that while her mother would sometimes disappear for periods of time, they were always in contact with her. Fairchild was last seen walking near Parker Road and Peoria Street in Aurora in late May, prompting the Colorado Bureau of Investigation to issue a Missing Indigenous Person Alert for her in September. The family’s grief and mourning was compounded by the confirmation of Fairchild’s death, sparking further discussions about the treatment of Indigenous peoples and the need for resources to address the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women. The tragic circumstances surrounding Fairchild’s disappearance and death highlight the ongoing issue of violence against Indigenous women and the need for continued efforts to raise awareness and support for affected families. Moving forward, questions linger about the circumstances leading to Fairchild’s death and the steps that can be taken to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.