THORNTON - Although friends have identified the victim of a condo fire over the weekend, authorities have yet to officially release any information on the victim. It's a sliver of hope for a family.
9NEWS spoke to the property manager at the condominium and two of the victim's friends, who identify her as 22-year-old Liberty Ledezma.
However, police continue to investigate and have not released the victim's identity, or said what may have led up to the fire that destroyed a home at the Star Point Condominiums near West 88th Avenue and Huron Street.
"Although we recognize that the situation looks grim we continue to hold out some hope that Liberty is alive somewhere either hiding from what may have led up to this fire or is being held against [her] will. We must continue to hope until there is no possibility of hope," the family said in a statement released Sunday night.
The statement went on to thank friends and loved ones for their prayers, love and support, and to thank authorities for their efforts.
"This is devastating," Catherine Madril said, Star Point Condominiums HOA manager. "I'm so just thankful that her 3-year-old wasn't there. Liberty has a 3-year-old and her 3-year-old happened to be with her grandmother."
9NEWS spoke with Brittany Ledezma, Liberty's 20-year-old sister. She spoke highly of her sister.
"I love her, she didn't deserve this at all," Ledezma said. "Whoever did this will be found and they will serve their time. She's always in my heart."
The fire started about 11:30 a.m. Saturday. The body was found around 2:30 p.m.
Thornton Police say the fire is being investigated as a suspicious incident. They say until the exact cause is determined they will investigate the case as a homicide.
Thornton Police say the last time they dealt with this kind of a case was 4 or 5 years ago.
Brittany Buhrman came to the scene Sunday night to pay her respects. She said she was friends with Ledezma since middle school.
"It's the worst thing that can happen to somebody," she said. "It really is. She was a sweet, sweet person. She was loved by all. She never missed a call, if something ever happened to one of us, she was right there. Just unbelievable."
People living in 14 condos were displaced by the blaze.
"I was just in my bed and I smelled smoke, came outside and everybody was starting to evacuate and just saw flames. I mean it just went up in flames," Jason Swan, a resident, said. "Huge flames, they were very large."
Thornton Police says the call initially came in as smoke in a crawl spac
