Tragic Discovery: Missing College Student Found in Colorado National Park

College Student, 19, Found Dead in Colorado National Park a Week After Disappearance — Details

On October 28, 2024, the college student was reported missing, according to Montrose County Sheriff Gene Lillard.

Dallas Roberts, 19, was discovered dead after going missing for about a week in Colorado’s Gunnison National Park’s Black Canyon.

Roberts, whose cause and manner of death are unknown, lived in Montrose, which is about 65 miles west of Gunnison, Colorado, and about 12 miles southwest of the park.

A missing person’s report regarding Roberts was posted on the Montrose County Sheriff’s Office’s Facebook page on October 30. According to their report, he was last saw in the Black Canyon region of Gunnison National Park on October 28.

Additionally, he was characterized as “about 5’11”, 130 lbs, with brown hair and brown eyes” in the ad. Anyone with knowledge regarding his whereabouts is encouraged to get in touch with the police.

The National Park Service told the police that Roberts had driven through the park gate in a vehicle while they were looking for him. The car was finally located around 150 feet down a steep hillside, according to Montrose County Sheriff Gene Lillard. It was close to a road that led to the bottom of Black Canyon and was encircled by dense bush.

The Mesa and Montrose County Sheriff’s Offices used a cadaver dog. A sweater that Roberts’ family eventually identified as theirs was discovered by National Park Service officers a few days later, around half a mile from the scene of the incident.

Drones were used to search beneath precipitous drops around the south lip of the canyon. In the end, the drones found Roberts’ body on the granite cliffside, some 200 feet down a ledge surrounded by sagebrush.

His body was eventually pulled from the gorge using ropes and pulleys by rescuers, who described the event as “an absolute tragedy,” according to the sheriff.

The 31,000-acre Black Canyon in Gunnison National Park is renowned for its untamed, secluded scenery. Over millions of years, the Gunnison River carved up a precipitous, rocky valley at this location.

In a statement, Roberts’ family thanked the Montrose Sheriff’s Department, the Search and Rescue Posse, the Black Canyon Forest Service and Rangers, and the staff at Montrose High School.

They were recognized by the family for their steadfast devotion and support throughout this trying period. They also expressed gratitude to the community for its generosity and understanding.

According to the family, Roberts was a wonderful person who made a difference in the lives of everyone around him. “His faith, devotion to family, and dedication to his goals will inspire his loved ones to be the best, most authentic, and kindest versions of themselves,” said the family.

Born in Greeley, Colorado, on March 25, 2005, Roberts had a passion for music and honed his craft over time. He would work in the shop with his father, Elliott Roberts, who is married to Deanna Roberts, and play bass with his brother, Preston Roberts.

In addition to building his guitar with his uncle Dwight, he enjoyed jamming with a man the family called “Papa Russ.” His mother, Lori Roberts, and his devoted extended family will miss him.

Roberts was a well-rounded person who participated heavily in football, soccer, track and field, NJROTC, and bull riding while attending Greeley schools. He played football and lacrosse after relocating to Montrose in November 2022, continuing to follow his love of sports.

According to the family, Roberts had a kind nature and was eager to become a teacher because he felt a deep called to work with kids. In 2023, he received his diploma from Montrose High School. Eager to fulfill his aspirations of influencing the world by fostering young minds, he later enrolled at Colorado Mesa University to study early childhood education.

Roberts left behind a family who loved and valued him greatly. Roberts was captivated by angels and was always looking to the Bible for explanation, answers, and serenity.

They remember him as the amazing young guy he was, and they grieve the loss of a family member. In a private family event, he and his grandfather David will be buried at Linn Grove Cemetery in Greeley, Colorado, on November 9.