Missing Man’s Body Found 3 Months After He Disappeared, Leaving His Dog Behind in Running Truck

A missing Colorado man whose truck and dog were spotted near a hotel in May has been found dead, authorities confirmed.

The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office reported that the body of Paul Aragon, 34, was discovered on Tuesday, Aug. 26, roughly 150 yards east of the Flatirons Vista Trailhead by a crew member with Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks, according to Fox affiliate KDVR and NBC affiliate KUSA.

His remains were taken to the Boulder County Coroner’s Office, which positively identified Aragon on Thursday, Aug. 28. The agency has not disclosed whether foul play is suspected.

The discovery comes more than three months after police first announced Aragon’s disappearance on May 20. At the time, he was believed to be working in Littleton or Lakewood and living in his truck.

A Broomfield police officer spotted Aragon’s truck on May 2 in a construction area off Edgeview Drive, near the WoodSpring Suites outside of Broomfield, at around 3:15 a.m. local time. The next day, another officer checked on the vehicle and found it parked with Aragon’s dog still inside. The release stated that “the engine of the truck was still running, lights were on and a dog was inside.”

“Paul was not a guest at the hotel and did not answer when officers tried to reach him via phone,” police said. The dog was taken to a local shelter while authorities searched the area.

Mercedes Hess, who said she was Aragon’s girlfriend, told KDVR that the pair had been working as peer coaches for a transitional house in Colorado Springs called Superior Connections. She described Aragon as “very independent,” “tough” and “strong.”

“He’s probably one of the strongest people I know. So, I wasn’t initially worried. When they found his truck, panic struck. He would never leave that dog. He loves that dog,” Hess said.

Aragon’s mother reported him missing five days after being notified that his dog had been located. She told authorities she had not heard from him since April 28 or 29 and that he missed work on May 5.

Aragon’s cause and manner of death are still under investigation, according to KUSA.