Who were Christine Vance and Rebecca Vance? Authorities identify mummified remains of trio discovered at remote Colorado camping site

2023-07-26 17:47

As per the county coroner, the reason for their deaths remains uncertain, but he suspects malnutrition and exposure to high altitude

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OHIO CITY, COLORADO: Mummified remains of three people were found at a remote camping location in the backcountry of Colorado earlier in July. The bodies have now been identified to be that of two sisters and one of their teenage children on Tuesday, July 25.

The remains of Christine Vance, 41, Rebecca Vance, 42, and Rebecca's 14-year-old son were found 1,000 feet from a site close to the Gold Creek Campground, as to The Colorado Sun by Gunnison County Coroner Michael Barnes.

The trio started the trek in 2022

The trio had apparently started trekking around a year ago in July 2022, as claimed by a relative, who also told the coroner that they intended to "live off the grid." One of the bodies was located by a hiker on July 9 while authorities found two others the next day. Gunnison County Sheriff Adam Murdie said, "One body was located outside the camp, while the other two were discovered inside a little zipped-up tent." The victims were discovered in a forested, isolated location, far from the usual hiking spots. "This is not a typical occurrence anywhere, by any means," Murdie said. Notably, the campground near which the bodies were found isn't clearly visible from the Forest Service due to its remote location, which was away from the typical route taken by visitors.

Their remains were 'fairly mummified'

Barnes noted that although more investigation is needed to ascertain the reasons for death, it is likely that malnutrition and "exposure to the elements" at a high altitude and during a hard winter led to their deaths. "It was a significantly harsh winter for us this year, and it always is here," the coroner said, adding, "but we did have more snow than we have had in the past couple of winters." Moreover, due to the advanced stage of decomposition, identifying the bodies was pretty difficult.

The county coroner disputes any reports of the three campers going missing. After finding the Vance sisters' next of kin, the coroner's office released their names to the public. However, because the son is a juvenile, the boy's identity is being withheld. According to Murdie, the remains were "fairly mummified," indicating that they had probably been there since last fall or maybe over the winter. Authorities also found tarps, personal items, and a log-built lean-to over a fire pit close to the campground. The county coroner disputes any reports of the three campers going missing.