In January, the new owners of a Grand Junction home on Pinyon Avenue found human remains while cleaning out one of four freezers left behind by the previous owners. DNA testing confirmed the remains belonged to Amanda Overstreet, who was last seen at age 16 in 2005, yet had never been reported missing, according to the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office.
Overstreet’s biological mother, Leanne Imer, formerly resided at the house where the remains were discovered. Unfortunately, the rest of Overstreet’s remains have yet to be located.
Remembering Amanda Overstreet
Friends recall Overstreet as “super bubbly,” loud, and unique. According to Knox, who lived across the street, “She wore quirky shirts with funny, sarcastic sayings.” Raised by her loving grandmother, Nelda, a math teacher, Overstreet was known for her vibrant personality throughout school and was beloved by her peers.
Months before her grandmother passed away from cancer in July 2005, Amanda moved to Colorado to live with her mother. Tragically, she was last seen in April 2005, and Knox noted that it was odd for her not to attend her grandmother’s funeral.
Since then, Leanne Imer’s other children have reportedly lived in the Pinyon Avenue home. However, there’s no mention of Amanda on family social media accounts.
The Mesa County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating the discovery of Overstreet’s remains.
A Facebook Group’s Efforts
A Facebook group named Searching For and Remembering Amanda L. Overstreet was established by her school friends in 2017, thriving as they shared memories and sought her whereabouts. Substantial interest has grown since the identification of her remains, boosting group membership from 57 to nearly 2,000.
However, not all reactions have been supportive. Valentine mentioned that Leanne Imer once asked the group to cease their search, claiming her daughter “just ran away.” This left many in the group questioning the mother’s motives, given Amanda’s disappearance.
Home Conditions and Privacy Requests
Recent photos from Imer’s home reveal concerning conditions, with piles of trash and old food, and reports suggest they had used the bathtub as a restroom. Remodeling took two months, cleaning out extensive debris from the property.
A spokesperson for Leanne Imer has requested privacy during this difficult time and has refrained from making further comments about the ongoing investigation.