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KC police: Body inside car pulled from river is Toni Anderson

Police think Toni Anderson, the missing woman whose car and body were pulled from the Missouri River near Parkville on March 10, entered the water from the boat ramp. A makeshift memorial has been started near the ramp.
Police think Toni Anderson, the missing woman whose car and body were pulled from the Missouri River near Parkville on March 10, entered the water from the boat ramp. A makeshift memorial has been started near the ramp. Kansas City Star

Kansas City police said Wednesday that the body found in a car pulled from the Missouri River late last week is missing Wichita woman Toni Anderson.

The department, in a tweet sent shortly before 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, said the body “has been positively identified.” Toni’s mother, Liz Anderson, previously confirmed to reporters that the body belonged her to daughter.

Toni Anderson, 20, was last seen Jan. 15 in Kansas City. For weeks her disappearance led to much speculation, including worry by her mother than she might have been lured into human trafficking. But her 2012 Ford Focus was pulled from the Missouri River alongside Platte Landing Park near Parkville at about 6 p.m. Friday.

The car, the second pulled from the river Friday, was just a few feet off the bank. Police have said it doesn’t appear foul play was involved.

A celebration of Anderson’s life will take place at Risen Savior Lutheran Church in Wichita on Tuesday, though a time for the event had not been set as of Wednesday afternoon, said Liz Anderson.

Amy Renee Leiker: 316-268-6644, @amyreneeleiker

This story was originally published March 15, 2017 at 11:43 AM with the headline "KC police: Body inside car pulled from river is Toni Anderson."

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