The two elk hunters, Andrew Porter and Ian Stasko, who were reported missing on Sept. 12 in the mountains of Southern Colorado, were found deceased last Thursday by Colorado Search and Rescue. The update was made by Lynne Runkle, Andrew’s aunt, on her GoFundMe page. The news capped off a week-long cloud that hung over every hunter in Western Colorado.
The young men, both 25 years old, traveled from Asheville, North Carolina, and Salt Lake City, Utah, to hunt elk beginning on September 8th.
Bridget Murphy, Andrew’s fiancée, reported her last communication received on Sept. 11. Bad weather arrived, and the men slept in their car.
The search for them began on Saturday, Sept. 13, led by the Conejos County Sheriff.
These were experienced hunters. They had hunted elk previously in Montana.
No visible injuries or initial signs of foul play were reported by the Conejos County coroner on Friday, according to Denver7. This was major news to those following the story remotely. There had been speculation on social media sites that something nefarious had happened.
If there’s a takeaway from this, it is that we are all susceptible to conditions that are beyond our control, and that youthfulness doesn’t guarantee survival.
My prayers and thoughts have been with this family this week and continue to be with them today.
James McKew 
Leave a comment