UT- Body found in Jordan River - Donna Kay Toland

[RKnowley]

February 6th, 2008 @ 6:49pm

(KSL News) Salt Lake City police say a woman's body was found floating in the Jordan River this afternoon.

Police say juveniles found the body in the river near 200 North and 100 West. They say the woman is Caucasian and believe she is in her 20s.

Police estimate that her body has been in the river for at least a couple of days. There are no obvious signs of foul play.

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=2618016

[SeriouslySearching]

Gosh, does it never end?! Women are turning up dead right and left. There doesn't seem to matter where across the nation.

[NewMommy09]

Wow!!! I was born and raised in Salt Lake and I still read the Salt Lake Tribune every day online because most of my family lives there. I have not heard one word about this until now. My mom knows my interest in helping with missing persons cases, and hasn't mentioned it either, which tells me, even being local, she had not heard about this. Very disappointing that these stories are not covered better.

I sincerely hope they can identify this woman soon. The area where she was found is basically right in the downtown Salt Lake City area, I believe. Salt Lake is set up like a grid, with the LDS temple being the center. From there you have 1st East (State Street), 1st West, 1st South, and 1st North, and so on from there. This area is also not very far from the University of Utah. I'm thinking possibly a college student as they said she seems to be in her early 20's.

Also this is not the greatest, safest neighborhood.

[NewMommy09]

http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695250953,00.html

Another story link. This one has a different location listed.
1200 West 200 North. Still basically the same area though.

[NewMommy09]

Angela Marie Hancock
MISSING SINCE: 12/6/2007DOB: 5-2-1979 AGE: 29HEIGHT: 5'5" WEIGHT: 118 lbsHAIR: BrownEYES: HazelRACE: whiteCONTACT: Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office (801) 743-7000
Endangered Missing: Angela is traveling in a green 2001 toyota Corrola. Unknown direction. If you have any information or have seen Angela contact the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office


Pic at link:
http://bci.utah.gov/MPC/MPCMissing.html#Note

[SuziQ]

http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695250953,00.html

Another story link. This one has a different location listed.
1200 West 200 North. Still basically the same area though.

I'm glad they fixed that, the original address put it right downtown and there is no river there! The new corrected address is about three miles west and in not that great of an area, IMO.

[SuziQ]

Sorry StillHoping, I didn't read your comment about the address downtown thing until after I made my post. And a howdy to my fellow Utahn!

[NewMommy09]

I also wanted to say, it HAS crossed my mind that this COULD BE Brianna Denison. I think it's unlikely, but the possibility is definitely there. I did a search and Salt Lake is only 522 miles away from Reno, NV. The drive would take maybe half a day. With all the coverage about Brianna, it's possible the perp was afraid to dump (sorry for the word, it's awful, I know) her locally. I know I am jumping to conclusions, but I thought I should mention that I do think this is a possibility.

[NewMommy09]

Sorry StillHoping, I didn't read your comment about the address downtown thing until after I made my post. And a howdy to my fellow Utahn!

Hi SuziQ, I didn't know you were from Utah. Glad to have someone here who knows what Utah is really like. Cause if you haven't been there, you really just don't know.

I had really wondered about the address too, as you can see from my post, I knew the original address would be right in the middle of downtown SLC, and I couldn't for the life of me think of what river was there. LOL.

[SuziQ]

That's interesting about Deanna, because we have a lot of crimes from Nevada end up here because of I-80. Whenever a UID is found along there, they could logistically be from anywhere as I-80 runs from West to East coast. It's a main artery through the U.S.

[NewMommy09]

That's interesting about Deanna, because we have a lot of crimes from Nevada end up here because of I-80. Whenever a UID is found along there, they could logistically be from anywhere as I-80 runs from West to East coast. It's a main artery through the U.S.

Did you mean Brianna or did I miss something? Is there a Deanna missing as well?
And I agree, about the I-80 thing. I have been trying to find a match for a UID that was found off I-80 by the Great Salt Lake, I belive in October of 2000. And I just feel that she was missing from another state and dumped in Utah while en-route to elsewhere.

[NewMommy09]

Mapquest Info for Reno, NV to Salt Lake City, Utah.
1:Start out going NORTH on N CENTER ST toward E 4TH ST / I-80 BL. 0.3 miles
2:Merge onto I-80 E (Crossing into UTAH). 516.6 miles
3:Keep RIGHT at the fork in the ramp.0.5 miles
4:Stay STRAIGHT to go onto UT-269 E / W 600 S.1.0 miles
5:Turn LEFT onto S STATE ST / US-89.0.3 miles
6:Turn LEFT onto E 400 S / UT-186 W.0.1 miles
7:End at Salt Lake City, UT US
Total Est. Time: 7 hours, 7 minutes Total Est. Distance: 519.05 miles

NOTE: This is basically a straight shot to Salt Lake from Reno on I-80.

[SuziQ]

Did you mean Brianna or did I miss something? Is there a Deanna missing as well?
And I agree, about the I-80 thing. I have been trying to find a match for a UID that was found off I-80 by the Great Salt Lake, I belive in October of 2000. And I just feel that she was missing from another state and dumped in Utah while en-route to elsewhere.

Lol, I was talking to my daughter and she was talking about her roomate, Deanna, a sweet girl. That's what I get for doing two things at once.

Oh yes, I drove by that UID on my way to and from work for a year. She was just yards away from the highway. (ETA: I didn't know she was there of course!) I've searched other state databases for her ID as well. She had very long beautiful hair right? You would think someone would have recognized her description.

[NewMommy09]

Lol, I was talking to my daughter and she was talking about her roomate, Deanna, a sweet girl. That's what I get for doing two things at once.

Oh yes, I drove by that UID on my way to and from work for a year. She was just yards away from the highway. I've searched other state databases for her ID as well. She had very long beautiful hair right? You would think someone would have recognized her description.

LOL, I thought it might be something like that. Didn't mean to call you out, but I thought I missed something.

Yes, she had really long hair, and was young. I think she would be about my age, and was probably dumped there about the time I graduated from High School. It's scarey to know she was out there for so long, and SO many people did drive by her probably every day just like you. But there are so many places like that in Utah, where someone would never be found. Gives me shivers up the spine. I started a thread for her here under UID's. I haven't gotten much input, and I'd certainly love yours.

[SeriouslySearching]

I have learned from the Stacy Peterson case, there are so many missing and murdered women being found daily...you just never know. :( Hopefully, they will release any information on clothing or the confirmation of her ID soon.

[NewMommy09]

I have learned from the Stacy Peterson case, there are so many missing and murdered women being found daily...you just never know. :( Hopefully, they will release any information on clothing or the confirmation of her ID soon.

I agree. I just figured you never know. And it really is a feasible scenario. But I really hope they release more details soon on this UID. I can't find anyone missing in Utah for 2008, but they may just not be on the web yet.

[SeriouslySearching]

That is what I have run across lately, too. Some of the women found had not been publicly identified as being missing or had not been reported to LE as missing yet.

[NewMommy09]

That is what I have run across lately, too. Some of the women found had not been publicly identified as being missing or had not been reported missing yet.

I believe that is a large part of the problem in why we have such a large database of UID's. It's so very sad. Do you think it's the families not reporting the person missing, the media not running the stories, or the LE not wanting the stories to go public? Maybe a mixture of all 3?

[RKnowley]

I live in Utah also.

Hi SuziQ, I didn't know you were from Utah. Glad to have someone here who knows what Utah is really like. Cause if you haven't been there, you really just don't know.

I had really wondered about the address too, as you can see from my post, I knew the original address would be right in the middle of downtown SLC, and I couldn't for the life of me think of what river was there. LOL.

[NewMommy09]

I live in Utah also.

Hi there fellow Utahn. LOL.
I'm in Texas now, but I'd take Utah over Texas any day of the week.
Hear you are getting plenty of snow this year.

[NewMommy09]

If anyone thinks they may know the identity of this woman, I found the phone # for Lt. C.T. Smith who was quoted in one of the articles about her.

Lt. C.T. Smith 1-801-799-3720.


I will most likely be calling him this evening as well as calling in a tip to Reno so they can verify that this is/isn't Brianna.

[RKnowley]

Salt Lake City police are investigating a murder after a woman's body was found floating in the Jordan River.

However, police said they have more questions than answers right now. Homicide detectives don't know who the woman is and aren't saying how she died.

"Once we're able to make that identification as to who she is, we can trace where she's been," Salt Lake City police detective Jeff Bedard said Thursday.

"But until we know who she is, we can't do anything."

At about 4 p.m. Wednesday, two children playing by the Jordan River near the Utah State Fairpark spotted the woman's body floating in the water. She is described as white and appeared to be in her 20s. "It's cold and frozen water," Salt Lake City Police Lt. Gary Young said. "They didn't know how long she's been in there"

More at link: http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695251220,00.html

[RKnowley]

Hey there! I've only ever lived in Utah so far. I do like it here. We sure have had our share of snow this year and I think we have another storm coming in later!

Hi there fellow Utahn. LOL.
I'm in Texas now, but I'd take Utah over Texas any day of the week.
Hear you are getting plenty of snow this year.

[NewMommy09]

Thanks R.Knowley,
I've been trying to find updates.

From R.Knowleys link:
Police were pleading for more information that could help them catch the woman's killer. A reward is being offered for a tip that helps solve the case. Anyone with information can call the Salt Lake City Police Department's Tips for Cash hotline at 801-799-INFO.

[NewMommy09]

Hey there! I've only ever lived in Utah so far. I do like it here. We sure have had our share of snow this year and I think we have another storm coming in later!

I never appreciated it until I left. Now I am homesick every single day. I miss more things than I have time to type about. It seems like you all are getting one storm after another. That's probably the only thing I like better about Texas. Say hello to the mountains for me. :crazy:

[RKnowley]

I wish they would release a little more about this UID. Height, etc. I guess that is probably coming soon.

[NewMommy09]

I wish they would release a little more about this UID. Height, etc. I guess that is probably coming soon.

I know, it seems like I have refreshed my browser a million times today.
But it usually takes at least a day or two before they release more details. I did find something from the last article you posted interesting.

(snipped)
"Once we're able to make that identification as to who she is, we can trace where she's been," Salt Lake City police detective Jeff Bedard said Thursday. (End)

Maybe they mean they can backtrack the last day of her life to find her killer. But I got the feeling they don't feel she is from the area.

[InterestedNHelping]

I felt the same way, as if they found something that leads them to believe she is from out of the area.

[RKnowley]

Salt Lake Police investigating a murder
February 7th, 2008 @ 4:10pm

Marc Giauque reporting

Salt Lake City police now believe they have a homicide on their hands.
A woman's body was found in the Jordan River yesterday. Two children found the body floating near the State Fairpark. Police initially said there was no outward show of foul play.

Today, they're investigating a murder. Salt Lake Police Detective Jeff Bedard says, "Well, we can't get into the specifics right now because those are sensitive parts of our investigation, but right now what we are trying to do is make a positive identification of who this person is, so we can start to put the pieces together."

Bedard says the body is of a white woman in her 20s. He says police don't know if she was a transient or a resident.

They're hoping for more clues from the medical examiner's office and possibly from the public.
If you have any information on this case, call 799-INFO.

[RKnowley]

<snip>
We spoke to some workers at the ski store near where the woman's body was found. They told us they had seen the woman before and that she had a husband. But again, police can't confirm any of that until they make a positive identification on her.
</snip>

Complete article: http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=2623197

[SeriouslySearching]

I believe that is a large part of the problem in why we have such a large database of UID's. It's so very sad. Do you think it's the families not reporting the person missing, the media not running the stories, or the LE not wanting the stories to go public? Maybe a mixture of all 3?Yes, I do believe it is a mixture of all three.

I also think a standardized form which gathers an abundance of information on the missing person is critical and is not done properly. (I found one on another site and it is the best I have ever seen.)

Once this is done, LE should release as much information as possible immediately without jeapordizing the person if they are found safe. This release would include the media and their response is also important.

The best way to find missing people is to use the public as their eyes and ears on the street. It is where they fail miserably. They do not utilize the public immediately (unless it is an Amber Alert).

UIDs databases and Missing persons databases are inadequate, if they are there at all. If you call a group of volunteers sitting for hours and hours digging through endless seas of faces and bad stats a system...it is all they really have, imo. LE doesn't have the time nor the money to search.

If we had the standardized form I was talking about...and our government would put money towards an enormous single data base for cross-referencing this specific information including DNA samples...we would not have this overwhelming situation.

[NewMommy09]

<snip>
We spoke to some workers at the ski store near where the woman's body was found. They told us they had seen the woman before and that she had a husband. But again, police can't confirm any of that until they make a positive identification on her.
</snip>

Complete article: http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=2623197

Sounds like this is probably not Bri. I'm definitely thankful for that. But prayers for her family, whoever she is. If she ends up being the woman that was seen at the ski store, and her husband didn't report her missing, I think we can all see where this one is going. :(

SeriouslySearching,
ITA with your above post. I know I was totally overwhelmed the first time I went to The Doe Network website. I had no idea there were SO many people unidentified, some for decades. I think it's one of the saddest feelings I've ever experienced.

[NewMommy09]

http://www.kutv.com/content/news/topnews/story.aspx?content_id=39796f41-b19d-4301-bc81-31c7942cd3e8 A little more at link.

Snipped from article -
Police arrested Gary Leon Toland Thursday night for the murder of his wife, 40-year-old Donna Kay Toland.

Donna Toland was found in the Jordan River on Wednesday. It appears she died of blunt force trauma, according to information released by the Salt Lake City Police Department.

Toland’s husband has been booked into jail on one count of criminal homicide. - End Snip

Wow, they originally said she was in her 20's and she's actually 40. They also said no visible signs of foul play, but the cod is blunt force trauma.

Prayers for Donna's family and friends.

[RKnowley]

Thanks for posting this StillHoping. I'm glad Debra has been identified and that her husband has been arrested.

[SuziQ]

Thanks for the update SH. Wow, LE was on this from the get go. They said they didn't know who she was, she was in her 20's and there was no obvious signs of foul play. They knew who she was, she was 40 and had blunt force trauma. And they knew her husband had murdered her.

I've noticed that since the Elizabeth Smart case, LE here has been very tight mouthed about crime. We usually don't hear of anything until after an arrest is made. Good for them!

ETA: Good for them even though it makes things difficult for us sleuthers and sends us down the completely wrong path!

[RKnowley]

I am amazed that Utah only has one UID listed. Could that be right? Other states seem to have so many more listed as unidentified.

[SeriouslySearching]

They don't list them all here either, RKnowley. They don't list all the missing either. It is very frustrating when you look at LE's sites and only see one or two when you knwo better!

[NewMommy09]

I am amazed that Utah only has one UID listed. Could that be right? Other states seem to have so many more listed as unidentified.

I have only ever found the one Salt Lake City Doe that was found in Oct. 2000. I have also found fewer missing persons cases in Utah than elsewhere. But like SS said, I think there could be many more that are not listed on websites.

I also think that with Utah's vast deserts, mine shafts, rugged mountain terrain etc, that it is easier to make a body disappear there. JMO.

[NewMommy09]

They believe Donna was killed in December.
A witness told investigators that Gary Toland told her his wife would be found in the river, police wrote in court documents filed Tuesday.
In a subsequent interview, Gary Toland told police, "I killed my wife," detectives wrote. He described a fight when "he was so enraged that he was swinging a shovel around." He said he hit his wife with his fist, and she hit her head on a rock, police wrote.

A little more at link:
http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_8246944

I have to agree with you SuziQ. The police completely threw everyone with the details they released on this case. Right down to saying that the body had been in the water for a few days, and now they believe she was killed in December.
I can't say I blame them though (provided they don't need the public's help to solve the crime), you saw what happened with the Elizabeth Smart case when she was found. I wouldn't even read her threads at CTV because of all of the rumors and crap that was being spewed about Liz. It really made me ill to see her victimized like that after her ordeal.