Bodies of 2 Missing Arizona Teens Found in Water Retention Basin

The bodies of two missing Arizona teens were found in a water retention basin over the weekend, according to local authorities.

In a statement, the Mesa Police Department said the bodies of Kamryn Meyers, 15, and Sitlalli Avelar, 17, were recovered by police at around 6 p.m. on January 21 after a man walking his dog informed the authorities of what he thought was a mannequin in a Mesa water retention basic.

According to the New York Post, the two Arizona teens were reported missing on January 7 from Powerhouse Youth Facility, Inc., a group home agency that provides care for troubled youths.

Mesa police said the Arizona teens' cause of death has yet to be determined by the medical examiner.

However, the bodies' condition suggested they had been in the water for an extended period before they were discovered. It is still unclear if foul play is suspected in the deaths of the two Arizona teens.

Missing Arizona Teens

The police department said the two Arizona teens were listed as runaways from the group home. Brad Miller, an attorney for the group home, noted that the teens had a history of leaving such facilities.

He said the teens were overheard talking about leaving the facility on January 6. Miller added that the staff tried to convince them to stay, but they still left the next day.

The lawyer noted that the group home followed protocols and notified agencies, including Mesa police and the Arizona Department of Child Safety.

The staff reportedly met with police on January 10 when the two failed to return to the group home. According to Miller, Powerhouse is a state-licensed facility, and by law, it cannot force children to stay.

Mesa resident Cathy Catalfo said there is so much life ahead of the two and "so much opportunity and growth and learning."

Catalfo noted that the first thing that came to her mind was, "who enticed you to leave?" and questions such as what made them "leave a safe environment."

Arizona Teens in Group Home

Miller said one of the girls had been living at the Mesa location for a month while the other had just recently logged in two months ago.

The attorney for the group home noted that the organization is not allowed to lock the children in the facilities. He added that most of the time, children are free to leave.

Local police have yet to piece together the information regarding the disappearance and discoveries of the bodies of the missing Arizona teens.

Mesa Police Det. Richard Encinas said the department's detectives have continued to work on the case, adding that they do not want to wait for the medical examiner's report to guide their direction.

Encinas noted that many of them in the force have children, adding that most are teenagers around the same age as the missing Arizona teens.

Powerhouse Youth Facility Inc. has several locations in Arizona. Its website said the home hopes to provide a "comprehensive focus of moving abused and neglected children towards self-sufficiency."

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Two Missing Teens Found Dead in Mesa, Police Say - From ABC15 Arizona