Christina Morris' Mother: 'This Is The Worst Day Of Our Lives'
COLLIN COUNTY (CBSDFW.COM) - The remains found in a wooded area in Anna Wednesday were identified by the medical examiner as those of Christina Morris.
Her family spoke publicly from the Plano Police Department, asking for privacy now that they finally have time to heal.
Calling it the "worst day of our lives," Christina's mother Joni Hare spoke of the 2,185 days that have passed since her daughter was last seen alive. Tearfully, she expressed her grief, a grief only a mother could know. Another one of Christina's relatives thank all the people who have helped the family during their ordeal -- from volunteer searchers, law enforcement, local media and many, many more from all over the country and globe.
It was more than three years ago when Morris vanished from a parking garage at The Shops at Legacy in Plano.
On Thursday morning friends and members of Christina's family, including her mother Jonni McElroy, arrived at the scene where the remains were found. The group of women carried flowers and later stood hugging and consoling each other.
The remains were discovered on Wednesday after an excavation crew began clearing brush for a new housing development. Andy Mitchell told CBS 11 News that he and his brother were checking on the progress on the development project when they came across the bones and some other items. "It appeared to be some clothing laying there, but we didn't dig around because we knew they [police] would do their own investigation and we didn't want to hinder it in any way," he said.
Morris was last seen alive with Enrique Arochi in 2014. The two, who were former high school classmates, had been out partying with friends. Surveillance cameras captured video of Arochi and Morris walking together.
Three months after Morris disappeared police found DNA in the trunk of Arochi's car and arrested him. Arochi was charged with Aggravated Kidnapping and found guilty in 2016. He was sentenced to life in prison and is serving his time in the Robertson Prison Unit in Abilene.
The Collin County Sheriff's Office and Plano police are assisting with the investigation in Anna. Members of Morris's family have said they hope the remains are Christina's so they can finally move on and see Arochi now tried for murder.
Crime scene investigators collected evidence late into the night on Wednesday and were back at the wooded field after the sun came up.
