Two bodies found Thursday near the Rio de Los Pinos Trailhead are believed by family to belong to two men reported missing Friday while elk hunting southeast of Pagosa Springs in the Rio Grande National Forest.
Lynne Runkle, aunt of Andrew Porter, one of the missing hunters, posted an update on a GoFundMe page set up for the search and rescue mission in which she described the men had been found dead.
“It is with a broken heart and through tears that I give you this update,” Runkle said Thursday. “Andrew Porter and Ian Stasko have both been found deceased. Their bodies were discovered earlier today by Colorado Search and Rescue. I will provide another update tomorrow. Please keep Andrew’s and Ian‘s families in your thoughts and prayers.”
Porter, 25, of North Carolina, and Stasko, 25, of Utah, had reportedly been elk hunting on rugged terrain southwest of Monte Vista in Game Management Unit 81 when they were reported missing.
The men “failed to check in with loved ones at a predetermined time” on Friday, according to a news release by the Conejos County Sheriff’s Office.
The Sheriff’s Office said in an updated release Thursday that the bodies of two unidentified men were found 2 miles from the Rio de Los Pinos Trailhead ‒ the last location from which family members received a phone ping.
“At this time, the individuals remain unidentified,” the release said. “The investigation is ongoing, and no further details are available pending identification and notification of next-of-kin.”
Saguache County Search and Rescue seemingly confirmed in a Facebook post that the bodies belonged to the missing men.
The men's’ vehicle was found Friday by officials at the Rio de Los Pinos Trailhead containing camping gear and backpacks, causing deputies to “immediately become concerned due to heavy rain and bad weather,” the release said.
Porter’s fiancee, Bridget Murphy, told The Colorado Sun that Porter had been sending periodic updates to his family and Murphy until Sept. 11.
A massive search and rescue operation took place over the course of several days, involving La Plata County Search and Rescue teams; the New Mexico State Police; and volunteers from numerous states, including Texas, Wyoming and Oklahoma. Air operations, multi county and state ground teams, dog teams, drone teams, ATVs and local volunteers were all employed in the nearly weeklong search for the men, the release said.
“Andrew, and Ian, I will not stop until we find you,” Murphy said in a Facebook post Thursday morning. “I will not give up. And these people today are ready to work as hard as possible to find you. We love you. We are here. We won’t stop.”
epond@durangoherald.com
