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UPDATE: After several days of searching, Colorado rescuers have recovered the bodies of two young elk hunters who went missing in Rio Grande National Forest.
According to a GoFundMe page set up by the hunters’ family, Andrew Porter, 25, and Ian Stasko, 25, were both found deceased by Colorado Search and Rescue.
“It is with a broken heart and through tears that I give you this update. Andrew and Ian have both been found deceased,” wrote Lynne Runkle, Porter’s aunt and the organizer of the online fundraiser. “Their bodies were discovered earlier today by Colorado Search and Rescue. I will provide another update tomorrow.”
Runkle did not provide further details.
Conejos County Sheriff Garth Crowther said in a news release, as reported by The Denver Post, that the men’s bodies were found roughly 2 miles from the Rio De Los Pinos trailhead. The men were initially unidentified, and the investigation into their deaths is ongoing.
Wednesday, Sept. 17 — Two young hunters are missing in southern Colorado, and their families are asking for help in the search. Andrew Porter, 25, and Ian Stasko, 25, set out for a hunt in Unit 81 of the Rio Grande National Forest on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025.
A large search effort is now underway, with volunteers assisting the Conejos County Sheriff’s Department. Porter and Stasko’s vehicle was found at the Rio Los Pinos Trailhead, where they had planned to start their hunt, with all their camping gear and backpacks still inside.
Both men are described as fit and experienced hunters who had thoroughly researched the area before selecting it for their trip. However, rain and cold fog moved in on the evening of Sept. 11, and poor weather persisted through Sunday, complicating the search.
On social media, Andrew Porter’s fiancée, Bridget Murphy, issued a heartfelt plea for anyone with experience in hunting, hiking, or southern Colorado terrain to assist in the search for the missing men.
“IF YOU ARE QUALIFIED / EXPERIENCED IN HUNTING, HIKING OR SOUTHERN COLORADO TERRAIN PLEASE, I BEG OF YOU, COME TO THE RIO LOS PINOS TRAILHEAD or the surrounding area to help search on foot,” Murphy wrote. “PLEASE WE NEED as much foot traffic SAFELY out there searching as we can get.”
Murphy suggested that Porter and Stasko may have left their gear in the car to go on a short evening hunt while the weather was clear. They were carrying a Garmin inReach device, but so far, neither Murphy nor anyone else has been able to make contact with them.
More Resources & Volunteers Needed
Conejos County Undersheriff Blake Crowther told Cville Right Now that multiple search and rescue teams from Colorado and New Mexico have been deployed. The operation has included horse teams, drones, helicopters, and “sophisticated aircraft” to help locate the missing hunters.
“We are very grateful to the Conejos County Sheriff’s Department and to all the volunteers for their efforts in finding Andrew and Ian,” the families wrote on the GoFundMe page created to support the search. “But we need more help, and we need it now. We need more resources, and we need them now. We are working furiously to find additional support as quickly as possible; time is of the essence.”
There is currently a $10,000 reward for information leading to Porter and Stasko. Anyone with information or who wants to volunteer in the search is asked to contact the Colorado State Police at 719-589-5807 or the Conejos County Sheriff’s Office at 719-376-2196.
FAQ’s
What happened to the two hunters that died in Colorado?
Andrew Porter, 25, from Asheville, North Carolina, and Ian Stasko, 25, from Salt Lake City, Utah, were experienced elk hunters who went missing during a trip in the Rio Grande National Forest. They were last in contact with loved ones on September 11. Their vehicle, camping gear, and backpacks were found at the Rio De Los Pinos Trailhead on September 13, prompting a search operation. After a six-day search, their bodies were discovered on September 18. There were no visible signs of trauma or foul play, and the cause of death is suspected to be hypothermia due to severe weather conditions.
Did they find the missing hunters?
Yes, the missing hunters, Andrew Porter and Ian Stasko, were found deceased in the Rio Grande National Forest after a week-long search. Their bodies were recovered on September 18, and the cause of death is believed to be hypothermia.
Who is the missing actor that was found dead?
The actor Julian Sands, known for his roles in A Room With a View and Leaving Las Vegas, was reported missing on January 13, 2023, during a hike in the Southern California mountains. His remains were discovered on Mount Baldy on June 24, 2023. The cause of death was not immediately determined, but Sands was an avid hiker and mountaineer.