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DENVER (KDVR) The Colorado Bureau of Investigation and other law enforcement have conducted numerous searches for a missing Conejos County man last seen on April 16.
Rodney Guilinger, 64, reportedly went to Conejos County to “do some scoping” and was scheduled to arrive home again by 3 p.m. on April 16. CBI reported that Guilinger’s wife, Patrice, said her husband dropped her off at work in Fort Garland that morning and said he would be scouting hunting areas between La Jara and the New Mexico border.
He never came back, and on April 17, officials located his truck on Forest Service Road 380 in Conejos County.
CBI reported that Guilinger suffers from cognitive impairment and requires daily medication. Attempts to contact his phone went directly to voicemail, CBI reported.
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CBI provided this image of Rodney Guilinger, 64, who was last seen on April 16 and his car was located on a Forest Service road on April 17. (Courtesy the Colorado Bureau of Investigation)
“We are dedicating every available resource and working tirelessly with our partners to locate Rodney Guilinger,” said Conejos County Sheriff Garth Crowther in the CBI release. “We understand the urgency of this situation, and are making every reasonable effort to find him.”
Near daily searches conducted since April 17
CBI shared a timeline of search efforts conducted since Guilinger was reported missing, showing that authorities have been actively looking for the missing man on at least a weekly basis.
CBI said that initial ground searches showed no signs of the missing man, and while K-9s and an aerial search were requested, weather made that impossible at the time. Rescue workers continued searching from April 17-21 before a trace of the missing man was located.
On April 22, CBI said, Springfield Police K-9s were deployed and tracked Guilinger’s scent to a pond near a cabin. An underwater search team was requested due to the K-9’s indications.
On April 23, the Alamosa County Sheriff’s Office used a K-9 and tracked Guilinger’s scent to the same pond location, with the K-9 indicating interest in the ice. CBI said at this point, arrangements were made with Colorado Parks and Wildlife for an underwater drone search on April 28.
Drone searches were made of the area for several days, but nothing was found. On April 28, the underwater drone search was conducted, CBI reported, but again, nothing was found. Searchers walked the river to try and find anything else, but nothing was located.
CBI noted that around a foot of snow fell on May 6 and 7, suspending search operations during that time, and on May 8, a search for new evidence or predator tracks was conducted, but nothing was found.
On May 12, officials conducted another K-9 search and found no new leads. Officials also conducted an aerial search and found nothing.
Anyone with information regarding Guilinger’s whereabouts is urged to call 911 or the Conejos County Sheriff’s Office at 719-589-5807.
