Vanished in the Valley: The Tragic Story of Danice Day

Danice Leah Day, born May 8, 1982, in Laramie, Wyoming, was a vibrant soul whose light shone through every hardship. The youngest child of Rodney (Rod) and Jonene Day, with half-sisters Julie and Jacqui Flint from Jonene’s prior relationship, Danice grew up in the small town of Medicine Bow, where she fished, camped, and dreamed under wide Wyoming skies. Described by Jonene as “beautiful inside and out,” Danice had a “bright, positive spirit,” offering “the best, longest hugs” and a heart that cared deeply for others’ feelings.

Her childhood was marked by challenges—Jonene’s struggles with meth and alcohol addiction left Danice and her sisters often unsupervised, forcing her to mature quickly. Yet Danice thrived, attending Medicine Bow Elementary School, where her intelligence and artistry shone. A talented writer, she published a poem in a literary journal at 15, her words a refuge from chaos. “Danice was a huge optimist,” Julie said, her ability to find beauty in pain evident in her drawings and close-knit friendships. Despite her mother’s absence, Danice maintained good grades, her determination a beacon for her sisters.

At 15, Danice faced a life-changing moment: pregnancy. In 1998, she gave birth to her son, Joshua, and moved to Monte Vista, Colorado, with Rod and stepmother Judy. There, she found stability, earning her GED through a local program and working as a waitress at Dos Rios Restaurante. Her infectious smile made her a town favorite, her warmth drawing in customers and friends. In 2001, she welcomed daughter Kaylie, pouring fierce love into her children. After battling cocaine addiction, Danice completed rehab, got her own apartment, and stood “on top of the world,” as Rod recalled. By Christmas 2001, clean alongside Jonene, she celebrated a family reunion in Laramie, saying she was “getting back to being herself” after years of struggle.

A Life Stolen by Violence

On January 9, 2002, Danice’s dreams were stolen. After an argument with her abusive partner, Victor Braun, in Monte Vista, she vanished. Danice had planned to leave him, taking Joshua and Kaylie to build a new life, but Victor’s possessiveness ended her hopes. Her purse, phone, and jacket were left behind, proof she didn’t leave willingly. For seven and a half years, her family searched, enduring false leads until 2009, when Victor led police to her remains in a welded oil barrel in Lyman Lake, Arizona. He claimed an “accidental” overdose, but her family believes he murdered her, with his father, Vern, helping cover it up. Victor pleaded guilty to reckless manslaughter, serving 12 years, while Vern’s perjury charges ended with his 2012 death.

Danice’s Lasting Legacy

Danice’s murder shook Monte Vista, a farming town of under 5,000, where her smile was a local treasure. Her family’s resilience became her legacy—Rod organized vigils and balloon releases, keeping her story alive. Jonene, Julie, and Jacqui held memorials in Monte Vista and Laramie in 2009, filling churches with love for Danice. Jacqui’s “Danice Day” website and “Remembering Danice Leah Day” Facebook page preserve her memory, ensuring Joshua (~27) and Kaylie (~24) know their mother’s fierce love. “It’s like losing her a second time,” Jacqui said of the discovery, yet their tributes keep Danice’s spirit vibrant.

Danice was a mother who’d “fight tooth and nail” for her kids, as Rod said, a poet whose words captured hope, a woman whose optimism transformed pain into beauty. Her hugs, her laughter, her dreams of a better life—they live on in Monte Vista’s fields and Laramie’s skies. Featured on Disappeared: Daddy’s Girl, Danice’s story inspires us to protect the vulnerable and cherish every moment. At Dark Dialogue, we carry her light, vowing to never let it fade.

How to Honor Danice Day

Danice Day’s life was a gift, and her memory calls us to action. Join us in celebrating her:

1. Listen to Her Story: Stream Dark Dialogue’s episode on Danice at darkdialogue.com or on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or below.

2. Learn More: Watch Disappeared: Daddy’s Girl (Hulu, Investigation Discovery) or check Valley Courier archives for Danice’s story.

3. Raise Awareness: Share Danice’s tribute with #VoicesOfTheVoiceless and #JusticeForDanice. Tag @FBI or @NCMEC on X to amplify her legacy.

4. Support Justice: Call Rio Grande County Sheriff at (719) 657-4000 with tips. Visit darkdialogue.com for advocacy resources.

5. Fuel Our Mission: Support us at ko-fi.com/darkdialogue to fund victim stories. Follow us on social media below for updates.

6. Keep Her Light Alive: Like, share, and comment to ensure Danice’s name shines on.

Danice Day was more than a tragedy—she was a mother’s love, a poet’s heart, a life that mattered. Let’s honor her by living with her resilience and keeping her memory burning bright.