19 Years After a Hiker Vanished, Some of Her Personal Items May Have Been Found: 'Glimmer of Closure'

09/17/2024 12:34 PM

Michelle Vanek, 35, disappeared on Sept. 24, 2005, in the area of Colorado's Mount of the Holy Cross

Authorities announced on Monday, Sept. 16, that personal items recently found on a Colorado mountain may have belonged to a hiker who vanished 19 years ago. 

In a news release shared on Facebook by the Eagle County Sheriff's Office, a female-led search team on Mount of the Holy Cross came across objects potentially linked to Michelle Vanek, 35, who disappeared on Sept. 24, 2005.

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The group recovered articles of clothing, a small backpack and hiking poles — "all of which are thought to have been with Michelle the day she vanished," the sheriff's office said, adding that "each item serves as a reminder of the strength of the human spirit, the unwavering dedication of these volunteers, and the enduring hope of a family waiting for answers." 

Authorities also noted that the items are being forensically tested to confirm whether they actually belong to the missing hiker. "These personal items are tangible connections to a life that touched so many," the sheriff's office continued. "This discovery offers a moment of hope for Michelle's family, friends, and the volunteers who have worked tirelessly,  even as they await further confirmation."

Related: Hiker Found 'Alive, but Not Well' After Month-Long Disappearance: 'May Have Only Had Another Day Left'

According to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) cold case file, Vanek was last seen on the morning of Sept. 24, 2005, after leaving the Half Moon Campground to go hiking. 

The case file stated that while near the summit of Mount of the Holy Cross, Vanek said she was tired. Her companion told her to wait as he would go to the top and then return. The companion told Vanek "if she wanted to head back down, to follow the trail and he would catch up with her."

However, when the friend returned, he did not find Vanek, per the CBI. The friend said he headed back up to find her, and he also spoke with other hikers who said they hadn't seen her. 

Related: Pair of Hikers Found Alive 2 Days After Going Missing in Yosemite National Park

The companion told authorities that Vanek was a tri-athlete but did not have experience as a high-altitude hiker. At the time of her hike, she ran out of drinking water sometime in the early afternoon that day. 

The initial search for Vanek lasted for eight days but yielded no results, the Eagle County Sheriff's Office said in a release posted to Facebook on Sept. 14, adding that the recent discovery of the personal items now offered a "glimmer of closure."

"We are filled with hope as a recent discovery in the area may finally bring her family, friends, and the entire community the closure they have long sought," the sheriff's office said. 

Related: Missing Hiker, 33, Found Dead After Being Swept Away in Grand Canyon Flash Flood That Husband Survived

"Through it all, we've never stopped searching for Michelle," they continued. "Her memory has been a beacon of hope and determination, inspiring every person involved in the effort to bring her home."

Authorities also said the exaction location of the area where the items were found will not be disclosed and will "remain protected, out of respect for future search efforts and Michelle's memory." 

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