2 Experienced Outdoorsmen Elk Hunters found dead, family says
Two men who went missing while elk hunting in southern Colorado last week have been found deceased, family members announced.
CONEJOS COUNTY, Colo. — Two men who went missing during an elk hunting trip in southern Colorado have been found dead, according to family members and local authorities.
Andrew Porter of Asheville, North Carolina, and Ian Stasko of Salt Lake City, Utah — both 25 years old — were last heard from on Thursday, Sept. 11, during a hunting trip west of Trujillo Meadows Reservoir, near the Colorado-New Mexico border. Severe storms had moved through the area around the time they were expected to check in with family, but they never made contact.
On Saturday, deputies with the Conejos County Sheriff’s Office launched a search after finding the men’s vehicle at the Rio De Los Pinos Trailhead. Their camping gear and backpacks were still inside — a troubling sign given the inclement weather.
A large-scale search effort followed, involving ground crews, aerial support, K-9 teams, and more than 170 personnel. A confirmed sighting of the two on a neighboring trail Friday morning helped expand the search area.
Tragically, on Thursday morning, both men were found deceased roughly two miles from the trailhead by Colorado Search and Rescue teams. Porter’s aunt, Lynne Runkle, shared the update in a post on a verified GoFundMe page that had been created to support the search.
The Conejos County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the discovery of two unidentified male bodies in a press release, stating further details would be released pending official identification and notification of next of kin.
“The commitment, coordination, and professionalism of all those involved in the search are a testament to our efforts,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement, commending the community and volunteers for their support throughout the operation.
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