Colorado police said a hiker discovered the remains of three people at a remote campsite in the Rocky Mountains and they were all “fairly mummified.”
Gunnison County Undersheriff Josh Ashe said that the hiker saw one body at the campsite just before 5 p.m. on Sunday and authorities were able to find two others when they arrived on Monday just after 8 a.m.
The three badly decomposed bodies were found at a makeshift campsite about 1,000 feet away from the Gold Creek Campground.
Investigators said the manner in which the bodies were discovered led them to believe no foul play was involved. There were no signs of violence and no weapons found.
Two of the bodies were found inside a small, zipped-up tent while the third body was found outside, said Gunnison County Sheriff Adam Murdie. He added that the camp was at a place where hikers don’t usually go.
Ashe said they found sleeping bags and water purification tools in the tent.
The bodies have been removed from the campsite and sent to the medical examiner’s office, who will determine the causes and manners of death of the three people.
Murdie said based on the advanced decomposition, that it appeared the bodies had been there for a very long time, possibly since last fall.
“Whether they froze to death in the winter or the combination of starved or froze, that’s what it sure seems like,” he explained.
“This is not a typical occurrence anywhere, by any means,” Murdie added.
Police are still trying to figure out the identities of the three people but say they are making progress.
Here’s a local news report about the harrowing incident:
3 badly decomposing bodies found in remote Colorado campsitewww.youtube.com
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