https://www.kktv.com/2025/09/1...s-southern-colorado/



‘Massive’ search underway for missing hunters in southern Colorado


A massive search is underway for a pair of hunters who were reportedly last heard from on Thursday, while hunting in Conejos County.

By Lauren Watson
Published: Sep. 16, 2025 at 4:55 PM CDT|Updated: 7 hours ago

CONEJOS COUNTY, Colo. (KKTV) - A massive search is underway for a pair of hunters who were reportedly last heard from on Thursday, while hunting in Conejos County.

According to the Conejos County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO), on September 13, deputies responded to the Rio De Los Pinos Trailhead in an effort to make contact with two hunters, Andrew Porter, a 25-year-old man from Asheville, N.C., and Ian Stasko, a 25-year-old man from Salt Lake City, UT. The sheriff’s office said the pair was reported overdue while elk hunting in the San Juan Wilderness Area, west of Trujillo Meadows Reservoir, when they failed to check in with their loved ones.

According to Porter’s fiancée Bridget Murphy, Porter and Stasko have not responded to communication since Thursday evening.

“Unfortunately, terrible storms came in on Thursday night with thunder, lightning, very, very bad fog, and rain. And then those storms kind of continued until Saturday night,” Murphy said.


CCSO said the car that the pair took to the trailhead was located with their camping gear and backpacks still inside. Deputies said there was a concern due to bad weather and heavy rain in the area.

The sheriff’s office said Search and Rescue operations were immediately put into place, with air operations, multi-county and state ground teams, dog teams, drone teams, ATVs and local volunteers working the area in a “massive” search.

“IF YOU ARE QUALIFIED / EXPERIENCED IN HUNTING, HIKING OR SOUTHERN COLORADO TERRAIN PLEASE, I BEG OF YOU, COME TO THE RIO LOS PINOS TRAILHEAD or the surrounding area to help search on foot,” Murphy said in a social media post made Monday.

According to Murphy, as of Tuesday afternoon, nothing had been found in the search so far. Search efforts remain underway as of this article’s last update.

“These two boys are very special to us. Andrew and I are supposed to be married in a few months. They are very savvy outdoorsmen and they’re fit. If they’re able, they will do everything they can to survive. They’re not some random people who chose this area without thought. They’ve been looking at this area for six months before coming here. They’re strong and capable, but we need the resources and they deserve them,” Murphy said.

The thing that pops out to me is according to this release all their gear is in their vehicle. Unless, they took off to initially check without gear to see where they would put camp which I don't know why you would do that. It sounds fishy. The world we're in, did they run into something they shouldn't have? Very curious to know how this turns out.