2 Hunters Found Dead amid Massive Search Just Hours After Fiancée Promised to ‘Not Stop’ Looking for Them

Two hunters who went missing for almost a week in southern Colorado have been found dead, according to family members. One of the men had been planning to get married soon.

On Thursday, Sept. 18, Andrew Porter’s aunt, Lynne Runkle, shared on a GoFundMe page that his body and the body of his friend, Ian Stasko, were discovered. She had created the fundraiser to support search and rescue efforts after the two 25-year-olds disappeared during a hunting trip in the Rio Grande National Forest.

“It is with a broken heart and through tears that I give you this update. Andrew and Ian have both been found deceased,” Runkle wrote. “Their bodies were discovered earlier today by Colorado Search and Rescue.”

She also asked people to keep both families in their thoughts and prayers.

That same day, the Conejos County Sheriff’s Office said that two men had been found near the Rio de Los Pinos Trailhead around 11 a.m. after days of searching. Sheriff Garth Crowther said in a press release that the individuals were not immediately identified and that the investigation was ongoing until families could be notified.

The two men, both experienced hunters, had traveled to the area to hunt elk. The last time anyone heard from them was on Thursday, Sept. 11, when Porter shared his location with his fiancée, Bridget Murphy, through a satellite device around 2:45 p.m., according to The Colorado Sun. He had been sending updates every few hours until then.

By Saturday, Sept. 13, deputies started searching after the men failed to check in at a planned time. Their vehicle was found with camping gear and backpacks still inside, raising concerns because of the heavy rain and poor weather. A large search was launched, involving ground teams, drones, dogs, volunteers, and helicopters.

On Wednesday, Sept. 17, Murphy posted on Facebook that the men had last been spotted alive on Friday, Sept. 12. “This gives us one more night we know they were safe,” she wrote. She believed they may have tried a new spot but returned to the trailhead the same morning.

She told The Colorado Sun that both Porter and Stasko were “very prepared outdoorsmen,” but worried they could have become disoriented or suffered from hypothermia.

The following day, both men were found dead.

Sheriff Crowther praised the effort of everyone who helped in the search, writing, “This collaborative effort reflects the strength of our community and the unwavering dedication to every volunteer and agency involved.”

For the families and friends of the two men, it was the heartbreaking end of their hopes.

Before the discovery, Murphy had posted one last message on Sept. 18: “Andrew and Ian, I will not stop until we find you. I will not give up. We love you. We are here. We won’t stop. Everyone pray for these people going out today, pray for their strength to keep going. To find our guys.”