A University of Arizona graduate missing after the Las Vegas massacre Sunday night has passed away.
ABC News confirmed Christiana Duarte's death Tuesday.
Duarte recently graduated from the University of Arizona and also worked earlier this year with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The team issued a statement on behalf of President Derrick Hall Tuesday, saying:
We are all shocked and extremely saddened by the horrific news of Christiana Duarte being among the victims in Sunday's tragic shootings in Las Vegas. She was a member of our Sales Development Staff this past spring and summer prior to receiving full-time employment with a team in another professional sports league. Her wonderful personality and passion for her career will forever be remembered by her D-backs family. And to her immediate family, along with her friends and co-workers, our thoughts and prayers are with you at this horrific time.
According to social media posts from friends, her phone was found and she did not have an ID with her. A family friend told ABC15's sister station KGUN9 Duarte's parents and family were in Las Vegas searching for her.
“I didn't want to believe it,” said Grant Adams, who graduated University of Arizona business school with Christiana. “She brought a smile to everyone's face.”
In the hours after the shooting Christiana was missing. Her employer, the LA Kings hockey team posted a missing person notice on social media. Many of her friends and family did the same – desperate for any hint that she might be okay.
“When you're looking for answers and she was lost, you're looking for anything, any footage you can find. Any glimpse of someone's face where you can say, ‘that was her,’” said Adams.
Grant and others received a glimmer of hope Monday afternoon when social media lit up with news that Chrissy had been found and was in the hospital. It proved to be false hope, spurred by the confusion of chaos and the sheer number of victims that needed to be identified.
“The false news that we heard was actually someone else. I found out later they thought it was her and she was in critical condition. But it wasn’t her,” said Adams.
Chrissy was confirmed dead Monday night.
In addition to her own sports career, Christiana’s brother is Mikey Duarte, a minor league baseball player for the White Sox. Christiana was at the concert with Mikey’s girlfriend who, according to friends, was also hurt.
A GoFundMe account has been set up to help Duarte's family with funeral costs.
