Body in park was Del Oro grad, 21
Cause of death yet
to be determined
Friends and family of 21-year-old Alyse Rachelle Conk, whose body was found on Wednesday morning in Loomis Basin Community Park, remember her happiness as infectious. “When she was happy she was amazing,” said Terra Dawson, a close friend of Conk’s since the two were 14. “She loved to be goofy, and I loved that about her. She was just so fun to be around.” Conk’s body was found by a 16-year-old boy in the Loomis Basin Community Park at 10:40 a.m. Wednesday. According to a Sheriff’s Department news release she appeared to have been camping by the creek. No foul play is suspected in her death, according to Dena Erwin, spokeswoman for the Placer County Sheriff’s Office. Friends say she had been out of contact with them for several months, and were unaware that she had been camping in the park. Acquaintances and friends contacted by the Journal were unwilling to speculate as to why Conk appeared to be camping in the park. It is as yet unknown whether drugs or alcohol played a role in her death. An autopsy was scheduled as of press time. Conk attended Del Oro High School in Loomis and was a member of the water polo team until she graduated in 2006. Dawson said the sport was very important to Conk, and that she was amazing in the water. Greg Kelderman, her coach, agreed, and remembers her as an easygoing girl. “She was an independent, kind soul,” he said. “I think that describes her best.” Keldermam and Dawson recall Conk being very excited about joining the Air Force after she graduated from high school. Dawson’s memories of Conk when she visited her in boot camp are happy ones. “She’d never been more beautiful,” Dawson said. “She was happy, covered in freckles, and she was so proud.” After leaving the Air Force, Conk lived in Rocklin and made many friends in the area who mourn her passing. Rachel Foster, who has known the Conk family for three years, will miss a trustworthy friend. “She was always a kind-hearted person,” Foster said. “I’d always go to her for advice. A lot of people will miss her, because she was always there for people when they needed her.” Dawson remembers Conk as loving math, Sudoku puzzles, and music. One of her favorite memories of Conk is of the two of them eating Chinese food and listening to the Beatles. She also said she and Conk enjoyed working together at Pizza Factory in Loomis as high school students. “When she was on her game, she was hilarious,” Dawson said. Kelderman said Conk was an easy person to talk to, especially for a high school student. He said that she was always herself and didn’t let herself get wrapped up in others’ negative business “She had a smile that lit up the room,” he said. In addition to water polo, Dawson said that Conk’s religious beliefs were very important to her. “Even when everything was bad, she always had her faith,” she said. “I don’t know what comes next, but I hope it’s better for her.” Further details on the circumstances surrounding Conk’s death will be published in the Journal when that information becomes available. She is survived by her parents, Tim and Denise Conk, and her brother and sister, Jared and Ashley Conk.
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Didn't anyone notice she had been out of touch? where was her immediate family? very very sad and condolences are offered.
how does a 21 year old girl become a hermit in a local park and no-one reaches out? was she hiding? i dont want to read between the lines but ther seems to be an elephant in room on this story.
An educated individual would realize that no news article will ever tell the entire story for a myriad of reasons. Shame on you for making assumptions about people you don't even know. My thoughts and prayers go out to her friends and family. May they find peace and comfort in this difficult time.
We really don’t have the full story and maybe we never will. Such a tragic loss. My condolences to the family.
This is very sad, my condolences to the family. It does raise many questions. How many young girls camp out at a park alone? It doesn’t make sense. I’m sure we will be reading about this for some time to come.
sad is not enough word to cover the gravity of this. i dont think any one is making assumptions here, at least not to the character of the person or her family. my apologies if thought is what is thought. the whole thing just seem odd to me.
ThinkThenSpeak, I didn't get that anyone was making assumptions. We all have questions because things just don't add up.
Sounds like she was dealing with some things that no one even her family may have been aware of. My condolences to her family and friends. I hope you all find some peace and healing.
"Didn't anyone notice she had been out of touch? where was her immediate family?" You cant fix other people, Of course we all noticed and we helped her how we could, but I know I am not God and neither are you. Please be aware of what you say. I am sure you did not mean this for harm, but people who loved her, like myself, are blaming ourselves enough right now and you should NEVER make assumptions about a situation you have no knowledge about... I understand that all are curious and confused, but please know that your speculative comments are public and people who loved Alyse dearly will see them, and they are not helping the situation at all.
I knew her more back in elementary school. She seemed like a nice person to me. First of all my sympathies go towards the parents. Secondly I thank her for the service she has done for the country. I do not know what was happening, I have a lot of questions which may or may not be answered, I indeed wonder why she was camping there (the local parks have prohibited times; no one allowed after dark, specific times). I would like to know why she was there, but I doubt anyone knows why at all, if so it would be one answer to many questions.
I hope the family stays strong and stays together now more than ever.
This is the second person I knew that one day I am told has died. RIP Jason Barton, RIP Alyse Conk.
To everyone else; please give the family their space, we all have questions, the Loomis News will answer what they can, and what they are allowed to. Do not bother the family personally to have questions answered, and if there is a service I hope that we will be told when and where.
Sounds like suicide.
Police say no foul play. Family not wanting to release cause of death. There' is only two reasons a family would want that, drugs or suicide. And usually families aren't too concerned about letting it out when it's drugs. Also, other reports stated she had withdrawn from friends the last couple of months and they hadn't seen her for a few months. Typical of depression.
Camping in park => either 1)she was kicked out of her home in which case she would be depressed.
...or 2)she was depressed, wanted to withdrawl her self from family, friends and society and saw the park as a good place to do that. As public as the park is, it's a great place to hide from people. You have bathrooms and running water to clean up in. I knew someone who ran away from home our freshman year of highschool and lived in the park.
My name is Jared Conk, and Alyse was my sister. The obvious to say is I loved her very much, I'm extremely sad with her gone and I will miss her forever.
I've been reading the comments posted before mine, and first I'd like to thank everyone for their concern and support. I've also decided to reply because there's too much speculation going around right now and I hope maybe I can clear that up.
Alyse's death was not suicide; She had immediate and long-term plans and we talked about them often. That said, Alyse was found with a partial bottle of pain medicine, she had been prescribed them by the hospital several days earlier where I picked her up. It was not suicide, and I sincerely hope she isn't remembered as such.
Also, if she had been camping there that night (and we don't believe she had been) it definitely would've have been the FIRST time. I can personally attest to her whereabouts the night before and over five weeks prior.
Foul play was also ruled out. That's a ridiculous proposal Alyse was loved and there was no one that wanted to do any harm to her.
The reason cause of death hasn't been released is because it hasn't been released to anyone, including us. The autopsy has been completed but we won't get the findings until the toxicology report comes back in 10 weeks.
From what I understand, she was doing a bible study alone by the creek, took her medication, fell asleep and rolled into the creek.
I hope this has been helpful, and again, we …
I am also very sorry that this happened. I didn't know Alyse personally, but when I did see her around, she was always very sweet. Will there be a candlelight vigil or other memorial that members of the town can attend?
To the loomisdon please quit trying to slander Alyses name by making these borderline stalkerish searches of her family and friends niki has known Alyse for a LONG time... They were even roomates at one point, if you are close to anyother person in this world you will know that many have hard times and good times, niki has the ups AND the DOWNS. Quit making a mountain out a mole hill and let Alyse rest in peace... It is absolutly despicable that you are pushing this so far, if you were even aquaintences with Alyse or knew any part of her character you would shut your mouth.
@ethics:
You dare claim such a thing? Anyone can look up to see what happened, its called investigating, not stalking. Please learn the PROPER DEFINITION of STALKER. I have hardly pushed anything whatsoever, for you to make such arrogant and uneducated claims shows your true self to resort to such tactics just because a few people ask around and I have the guts to say something. You are a coward to try and slander me and everything, you must have NOT read my previous posts.
Attempting to do what you are doing only raises the questions FURTHER ESCALATING what you claim is nothing. You responded quickly with emotion, lacking what I have stated or even bothering to read anything, as you know anyone in journalism looks for CAUSES. As do CURIOUS people. Take your bogus claims somewhere else, and take your own advice before you speak next time.
I graduated with Alyse, I didn't know her that well, but I did have a lot of my classes with her. She was always very sweet. My prayers go out to the family and friends that are suffering at this time.... R.I.P Alyse
Theloomisdon, I am sorry that I reponded in anger, I understand that you are curious and are searching for information. However I found it alarming that you posted a "lead" to google a good friend of mines name, I am sure that your intent was not to facilitate any stocking but I know that niki would not appreciate being associated with something that I'm sure many, not necessarily yourself, will turn into slanderous gossip. I understand that it may not have been your intention to do so, but your post about looking further into Nikis use of "finally" rather sounds like you are implying that alyse had been waiting to die, which is not the case, as Jared previously posted. My only intent in even commenting on this story and others about Alyse is to combat the gossip that inevitably and unfortunately goes unlong with seemingly random and untimely deaths. She meant so much to me, and I know to many others, and it absolutely breaks my heart to see her being thrown carelessly into rumors and stories that are untrue. I hope the information you find on the matter is accurate and that it satisfies your curiosity, but as a journalist, I'm sure you don't want to recieve or pass along innacurate information.
I simply posted what others brought forth, thus not my original thought or notice here (which means I checked it out after many others have, all DO students are curious, people have made posts insinuating what actually caused it, I simply noted it being a shame, thus the other post separate from the others),
To family and friends, and those who care, a candlelight vigil will be held at 6:30pm on Monday,August 31, 2009 at the Loomis Park. Out of respect for the family,please no spectators.
TONIGHTS VIGIL IS CANCELED IT IS NOT THE MEMORIAL PLEASE DO NOT CALL THE CONKS THEY ARE DEALING WITH ENOUGH AGAIN 08-31-09 VIGIL IS CANCELED
Although I never met or knew Alyse, we have all been privledged with the following information: She had many who loved and cared for her, she was well liked and respected in high school, she volunteered to serve this country in the military, and she was devoted to the word of God.
Alyse gave of her time, treasure and talent to her friends, school and this country. She appears to have walked her faith. With this small amount of information we can all have hope in that she is now in God's hands. One day, when our work in this life is completed in accordance with His plans, we will all be called home. I will pray that my life reads as well in print as this young woman's when I pass from this world. I will pray for strength for family and friends and compassion for all that did not know Alyse. God has called home one of his wonderful servants, who appears to have known Him, as her life clearly shows. A short life but, a testimony truly worthy of praise.
Do any of you people have anything better to do then just sit here and write all these comments? Maybe you need to wrap yourself more in your own life. This could have been any of your peoples child. So maybe instead of sitting here questioning all of this you need to call your own child and see where they are and make sure they are okay. No one knows the whole story, but is it really any of our business? Nope no one but the family and friends of this young girl. My thought and prayers are with this family.
@Anythingbettertodo:
You made a comment too with question marks did you not? Ask yourself first.
Also I noticed 666blitz said to not call the Conks, no one should be anyway, leave them to their peace. Call anyone whom may know and answer questions, or wait for a press release.
LoomisDon. Why do you believe that you need to be the investigator of this story? I don’t know what makes you think that you deserve to know anything about Alyse after the way that you have spoken about this whole situation. She’s a person. We, as her family and friends, feel that you have completely overstepped your boundaries. You want to know something? Figure it out the way that every other curious bystander does and wait for it to come out in the paper.
Niki is my BEST friend and I find it very rude that you would ever put her name on this public page and make an assumption about something she wrote for her friends to see…not to anyone else! You have put her in an uncomfortable position knowing that others are examining her like she knew what was going to happen. I love Niki and feel that you have disrespected me and all of our family and friends by being so inconsiderate.
Yes, I am being defensive so if you want to send me back an angry reply that’s fine. In fact, if you’d like to say it to my face please let me know and I will arrange for that! I would love to meet the person who believes they should know everything about Alyse and what happened to her and why you deem yourself worthy of this information in the first place.
You folks who are responding to comments from people who are curious about what happened to Alyse are only fueling the fire. Your responses only make it seem like you are hiding something, and based on your own comments about her "problems" (you're giving too much information) only makes it seem suspicious. Maybe if YOU stop responding it will die down.
@LotsOfLove:
Thank you for being an uneducated individual and not reading my post whereas is stated that is was not my suspicion or investigation, if you have a problem with investigations please seek out the Placer County Sheriff and make a protest there since 'investigating is bad' through the meaning of your post. I already stated to people to wait and find out, you couldnt even read my first few posts.
Either way people have said/seen it, therefore it is old news and claiming that I am being the rude one instead of the source, your bigotry is not welcome as a response especially when not reading all the facts at-hand and presented to you in which you failed to read.
Therefore any disrespect toward anyone is caused by yourself and your own assumptions, you are only angering yourself and you are not logically approaching simple commentary.
Your second post could have fit inside the first, and the second is laughable as again you are assuming and failed to read, for a second time, nice way to put yourself down automatically.
Thus, I recommend you read the post by "Analyst", as that entire post makes sense, and indeed adds credibility through approaching logically and with a factual statement "and based on your own comments about her "problems" (you're giving too much information) only makes it seem suspicious. "
Read before posting. You might save yourself trouble that you make and cause by not reading everything.