The Conejos County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO), alongside multiple state and federal agencies, are continuing to search for Rodney Guilinger, a 64-year-old man from Fort Garland who went missing April 16, 2025. Mr. Guilinger, who has cognitive impairment, dementia, and requires daily medication, was last seen scouting hunting areas near the New Mexico border before failing to return home as expected.

Key Details of the Case:

• Last Contact: On April 16 at approximately 7:30 a.m., Mr. Guilinger dropped off his wife, Patrice, at her workplace in Fort Garland and indicated he would return by 5–6 p.m. Attempts to reach him via phone went unanswered. A missing person report was filed the same day.
• Vehicle Located: His silver 2021 Dodge Ram (no front plate) was found stuck on Forest Service Road 380 in Conejos County on April 17, sparking an immediate multi-agency ground search.

Search Efforts and Challenges:

Since his disappearance, deputies, U.S. Forest Service officers, and specialized teams from agencies including Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Rio Grande Sheriff’s Office, and Bloodhound Man Trackers have conducted systematic ground searches across rugged terrain. K9 units from Springfield Police Department, Alamosa Sheriff’s Office, and others were deployed in early May to track Mr. Guilinger’s scent near a cabin area linked to the case.

Despite these efforts, adverse weather - including heavy snowfall and melting ice - delayed operations and limited air support. Underwater drone searches of two nearby ponds were conducted without success. As of May 12, no new leads have emerged.

Urgency and Health Concerns:

Sheriff Garth Crowther emphasized the critical nature of the search: “We are dedicating every available resource and working tirelessly with our partners to locate Rodney Guilinger. We understand the urgency of this situation and are making every reasonable effort to find him.” Mr. Guilinger’s medical conditions, including high blood pressure that has caused past blackouts, heighten concerns for his well-being if he remains unaccounted for in harsh conditions.

CCSO urges anyone with information about Mr. Guilinger’s whereabouts or sightings of a silver 2021 Dodge Ram to contact the Sheriff’s Office at 719-589-5807 or call 911.

The search has drawn collaboration from over 15 organizations, including Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Air Guard, Flight for Life, and Denver Police Department, among others.