September 19, 1982

An unidentified female was found on the south bank of the San Juan River at the New Mexico and Colorado border.  An autopsy determined that she had been strangled, and she was estimated to have been dead for several weeks.  She was described as a white female, in her late twenties to mid thirties, 5”5” tall.  Her weight at the autopsy was 114 pounds (but she had been decomposing for several weeks).  She had brown hair (probably light brown) and was dressed in Wrangler blue jeans, a floral pattern purple yellow and blue Mao style padded jacked, a threadbare purple halter top, and pink lace edged panties.  She had two pieces of jewelry, both silver, a heart pendant, and a crooked horn or chili pepper.  Dental work is available.

One month later, on October 22nd, 1982, an unidentified male was found across the river on the North bank of the San Juan River at the Colorado and New Mexico border.  An autopsy determined that he had been shot, at least twice, with a 22 caliber weapon.  He was a white male, estimated to be in his mid twenties, with brown to blond hair and a reddish blond beard.  He had an old, healed, fracture to the right clavicle.  He was estimated to be 5”10” tall, and no weight estimation was made.  He was wearing a yellow t-shirt, whit the logo “Lazy B Guest Ranch, Fallon, Nevada” on the front, brown corduroy pants, and white converse tennis shoes.  Dental work is available.  The male’s DNA is in the CODIS data base.

RMIN Bulletin circa 1982 PDF Document

Detective Geroge Barter has reopened the case and is activly working leads and developments. If you have any information regarding this case please feel free to contact him at 970-264-2131.