From Deseret News archives:
Closure Kali Breisch's body found
Family members discover her photo at Thai morgue
A picture of Kali Breisch was among those posted outside a morgue in Thailand showing the faces of the bodies inside and was recognized by her older sister, Shonti.
Shonti and her father, Stuart Breisch, had spent five days scouring the country's beachside but stopped the search to be with Kali's brother Jai, 16, who is recovering in Bangkok after suffering a deep cut on his leg and a separated shoulder.
When Kali's family discovered her photo, it was a touching moment captured by a camera crew from ABC's "Good Morning America."
The family was vacationing in Thailand when the gigantic wave hit Dec. 26. Kali, 15, and Jai were in a bungalow on the beach that was knocked down by a huge wave, throwing Jai against a tree.
In Salt Lake County on Monday morning, school leaders say they could have heard a pin drop when fellow students learned Kali's body had been found.
After Principal Kathy Clark made the announcement, students viewed a recorded segment of Monday's "Good Morning America," which happened to be following the Breisch family in the wake of the disaster.
It was a halter top, a Christmas present. For minutes, the family held each other and cried.
"This is my sister . . . ," Shonti said, "but we were just still hoping."
Some Skyline students were tearful and quiet. But for some watching the emotional clip, it brought welcomed closure.
"I think some of them felt that they were actually there when she found her sister, and that hit hard," said Ike Spencer, assistant principal.
"It's always hard losing a friend. Of course, we have several kids crying," said John Johansen, student body president. "It was an emotional video, but it really helped with closure. Throughout the weekend we've all been wondering what's going to happen. It's sad, but it is kind of nice to put an end to it."
Clark said the school had counselors on hand to help students who were struggling, but teachers felt they could handle the emotions within their classes.
"When you are sitting in a class and there is an empty desk and everybody knows why the desk is empty, it's not something where you just hold a regular class," Clark said.
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