FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — The husband of a woman who was reported missing in Flagstaff earlier this week has admitted to killing her and told investigators where to find her body, according to Coconino County officials.
The body of Kelly Paduchowski, 45, was found around 10 a.m. but officials are not disclosing where at this time.
Coconino County Senior Attorney Michael Tunink said they reached an agreement with Kelly Paduchowski's husband, Daniel Paduchowski, 58, on Friday and he told investigators where to find Kelly Paduchowski's body. He pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and other charges, officials said.
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The agreement states that Daniel Paduchowski will serve a 16-year sentence in the Arizona Department of Corrections and will not be eligible for early release, Tunink said. Formal sentencing is set for Sept. 10.
"This is obviously a monumental tragedy for Kelly's family and her loved ones," Tunink said. "We have been in close communication with Kelly's family throughout this process, about this resolution, which we pursued to bring finality in a situation that has weighed heavily on this community."
"We would like to thank the community and numerous volunteers who shared in the efforts to bring the search to a close. At this time the family respectfully requests privacy," a statement from the Flagstaff Police Department said.
Family said Kelly Paduchowski was a mother to two children. A GoFundMe page was created to help support her kids. Anyone who wishes to donate can click here.
Daniel Paduchowski contacted police around 7:40 p.m. on Sunday, June 30, and reported Kelly Paduchowski missing. He told police his wife was last seen Sunday when she left her home for a run and a swim near Lake Mary around 1:30 p.m., police said
"This statement was later discovered to be an attempt to misdirect police resources," Collin Seay, deputy chief of operations with the Flagstaff Police Department said.
Kelly Paduchowski's family located her vehicle at the Campbell Mesa Trailhead about three hours later, which is on the opposite side of town, Seay said. A search and rescue operation was immediately put into place.
On the morning of Monday, July 1, investigators found evidence at the Paduchowski home that turned it into a homicide investigation, Seay said. They also interviewed neighbors about Kelly and Daniel Paduchowski's whereabouts on that Sunday.
"We were able to build this case based on Flagstaff coming together as a community and giving us great information and evidence," Seay said.
On Monday, Flagstaff police said they arrested Kelly Paduchowski's husband, Daniel Paduchowski, 58, for aggravated assault in the case after speaking with witnesses and her family. He was later charged with second-degree murder, hiding and body and possession of drugs.
Police gave an updated timeline in the case on Tuesday:
- Kelly Paduchowski's phone pinged near Schultz Creek Trail around 10:30 a.m. Sunday, police said, and Daniel Paduchowski was seen in the same area at 11:30 a.m.
- Kelly Paduchowski's cell phone then pinged at the home she shared with Daniel Paduchowski at 12:13 p.m., police said.
- Kelly Paduchowski's white Mazda CX-5 was found at the Campbell Mesa Trailhead at 1:30 p.m., police said. Police also have surveillance images that reportedly show Daniel Paduchowski at the same trailhead in the same timeframe
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