Missing Man Found Dead in Colorado River Nearly 1 Year After Raft Capsized

The assemblage of a man who vanished successful nan Colorado River astir a twelvemonth agone aft a rafting accident has been found.

The Grand County Sheriff's Office successful Colorado confirmed successful a Wednesday, June 4, property merchandise that nan remains — identified arsenic belonging to Thomas Russell, 62, of Littleton — were discovered successful nan stream adjacent Rancho Del Rio. 

Authorities were capable to find nan unfortunate owed to a important alteration successful h2o levels successful nan area.

The Eagle County Sheriff’s Office alerted nan Grand County’s Sheriff’s Office astir nan find of nan assemblage connected May 21.

After nan recognition was made done a forensic dentist, nan Grand County Coroner's Office contacted his adjacent of kin.

The news came astir 1 twelvemonth aft nan rafting mishap took place.

On June 1, 2024, nan sheriff’s agency said that authorities were alerted astir a personification who was not breathing successful nan conception of nan Colorado River successful Gore Canyon. He was pronounced deceased by emergency responders and later identified arsenic Brent Boulter, 56, of Aurora. 

“Additionally, location was different antheral taxable [Russell] who was still missing pursuing nan mishap aft nan raft capsized,” nan sheriff’s agency connection read. Emergency responders searched nan stream and surrounding areas, but were incapable to find him — and a hunt nan pursuing time was besides unsuccessful.

Another personification who was pinch Boulter and Russelll was capable to get retired nan stream and was accounted for.

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Neither Boulter and Russell were wearing a unit flotation instrumentality (PFD), according to preliminary reports, nan sheriff’s agency noted. 

"The area wherever we specifically were focusing connected wherever nan mishap happened was called nan Yarmony Rapids," Grand County Sheriff Brett Schroetlin said past year, according to NBC connection KUSA.

Schroetlin emphasized nan value of wearing life vests successful nan water. "That helps you rescue yourself," nan charismatic said. "It besides helps america find you if we can't beryllium successful nan correct spot astatine nan correct time."