Missing Wisconsin woman's body found after 4 years

MARATHON COUNTY, Wis. (WFRV) — The remains of Cassandra Ayon, who disappeared more than four years ago, have been found in central Wisconsin.

Ayon's body was found on private property in the Town of Brighton, about 130 miles west of Green Bay, on November 30, according to the Wisconsin Department of Justice. Authorities told local outlet WSAW that a citizen found Ayon's remains but did not share any additional details.

"We hope the discovery of her remains lends a sense of finality to her family and everyone who mourns her," Clark County District Attorney Melissa Inlow said.

Ayon, 27, was first reported missing in mid-October 2020. At the time, authorities said Ayon was last seen leaving a friend's house in the early morning hours of October 3. After she failed to show up for work two days later, authorities determined Ayon had never made it home.

An October 2020 post from the Menominee County Sheriff asking for help locating Cassandra Ayon. (Menominee County Sheriff via Facebook)

"This case has been on our minds for years. Our thoughts are with Cassandra’s family and friends," stated Clark County Sheriff Scott Haines.

In September 2022, Jesus Contreras-Perez of Mosinee was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of release for Ayon’s murder. According to the WisDOJ, he was convicted of first-degree intentional homicide, hiding a corpse, and stalking causing bodily harm.

Court documents alleged Contreras-Perez had been stalking and abusing Ayon for months, WSAW reports. Investigators found surveillance video from Ayon's place of employment showing Contreras-Perez "hanging around" in the parking lot the night before the woman was last seen. Ayon had also reportedly told others that Contreras-Perez had caused bruising on her face.

In the days before Ayon's disappearance, investigators said they found Contreras-Perez had searched Google for information on "how to make a homemade silencer" and other related topics.

Contreras-Perez, who shares a child with Ayon, has appealed his conviction, according to WSAW.

Attorney General Josh Kaul expressed sympathy for Ayon’s loved ones, thanking those who worked tirelessly on the case.

The press release notes that a collaborative effort among the Wisconsin Department of Justice, local sheriff’s offices, the Clark County District Attorney’s Office, and other agencies led to the recovery of Ayon’s remains.

Topics

Man missing for 5 years found dead in truck buried in Mississippi River

The remains were identified as Daniel Claeys, who was in his early 30s when his family said he was missing in 2019.
CBS News - 6h
Body found in search for missing Cairngorms skier

Sam Burns was last in contact with friends on Friday morning ahead of going to ski alone in the Cairngorms.
BBC News - 2d
Body found in search for missing skier in Scottish Highlands

Sam Burns, 40, went missing in Cairngorms after going skiing alone . A body has been found in the search for a skier missing overnight in the Cairngorms.. Sam Burns, 40, was last in contact with ...
The Guardian - 2d
Man claiming to be missing American found in Syria months after going missing

A man identifying himself as Travis Timmerman, a Missouri man who was reported missing earlier this year, has been found in Syria. Timmerman told CBS News that he had been imprisoned for seven ...
CBS News - 3d
Body found in search for rugby star missing in flood

Police believe Tom Voyce tried to cross a flooded ford and his car was pulled along by the current.
BBC News - 3d
US woman found safe after disappearance sparked conspiracy theories

Her disappearance sparked conspiracies online before police declared she had "voluntarily" gone missing.
BBC News - 4d
Body found in search for woman stuck in estuary mud

Shona Campbell reported getting into difficulties on the Solway Firth in Dumfries and Galloway.
BBC News - 6d
Body found of Pennsylvania woman who fell into sinkhole

Authorities have found the body of 64-year-old Elizabeth Pollard, the Pennsylvania woman who fell into a sinkhole while looking for her cat. CBS News affiliate KDKA has the latest details.
CBS News - Dec. 6
36 years after teen's body found in river, her killer is identified

Decades after a Washington teenager's brutal murder, law enforcement identified her killer using genealogical DNA testing.
CBS News - Dec. 2