El Paso County Sheriff’s Office identifies woman found dead on Highway 24 in Cascade

CASCADE, Colo. (KRDO) -- The El Paso County Sheriff's Office says it was a 22-year-old woman who was found dead on the side of Highway 24 last week in Cascade.

Dedrea L. Duncan, 22, was identified Tuesday as the victim in a homicide that's currently under investigation.

Dedrea's friends told KRDO she was an adventurous artist, who was always there for her loved ones.

"Dedrea was a free spirit, kind hearted, loving, happy, funny, ego boosting type of girl, with dozens of friends," said her friend Breanna. "She loved sunflowers, and hiking. We were supposed to be work out buddies but someone stole that from us by taking her life."

"If you met Dedrea, you would have been able to feel her positive energy radiating off of her," said another friend, Destyni. "She lived life to fullest, she was a true sweetheart, and it was in her nature to want to be friends with anyone she met."

They said she was strong, but beautiful.

"She held her head up in whatever battle she faced. You would have not known what she was going through," Destyni told us. "Her smile and her beauty will live a mark on everyone that she ever came into counter with."

Her brother Dalton said she moved to Colorado from her home in the Bay Area of California to start a new life. But when she stopped taking classes at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs two years back, he said she "got into the wrong crowd."

Dedrea's body was found on Friday, but few other details have been made available. Metro Crime Lab was on scene investigating throughout the morning. The Mobile Command Unit and the El Paso County Coroner's Office had left the scene by noon on Friday.

There are no suspects at this time.

The sheriff's office is asking for anyone with information to call the tip line at 719-520-6666.

A Gofundme account has been set up to help Duncan's family pay for funeral expenses.