Tragedy struck near Allenspark as the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that a 78-year-old man was found deceased after a search operation. The man had been missing since January 16, and concern mounted when a family member reported to authorities that they had lost contact, which prompted a requested welfare check on Tuesday, January 21.
Deputies, upon their arrival at the man's residence on Big Owl Road, concluded the man may have set out on foot after finding his home empty. After an initial search proved fruitless on Tuesday, the operation escalated on Wednesday with 15 personnel and volunteers fanning out, drones buzzing overhead, and search dogs sniffing for clues. An Everbridge notification was sent to residents, but all efforts to locate the man remained in vain.
The search resumed with increased urgency on Thursday, with the ranks of the search teams swelling to 35 members. According to the Boulder County Sheriff's Office, the unfortunate discovery was made at 11:40 a.m., with the deceased individual located approximately 1/2 mile from his home. The body was discovered by the Arapahoe Rescue Patrol, which is notably staffed with high school students volunteering their time to assist in emergencies.
