Update- Authorities in Colorado say two hunters who were found dead after nearly a weeklong search were killed by a lightning strike.
Conejos County Coroner Richard Martin told PEOPLE on Monday, Sept. 22, that preliminary findings show Andrew Porter and Ian Stasko, both 25, were struck by lightning. Their injuries matched what he described as “a pretty intense electrical jolt.”
The full autopsy results confirming Stasko and Porter’s cause and manner of death are expected to take about eight weeks to be completed.
Andrew Porter and Ian Stasko, both skilled outdoorsmen, were reported missing after a hunting trip in the Rio Grande National Forest in southern Colorado. Nearly a week later, their bodies were discovered, family members confirmed on Thursday, Sept. 18, according to PEOPLE.
That same day, the Conejos County Sheriff’s Office said two unidentified men were recovered from the Rio de Los Pinos Trailhead around 11 a.m. following an extensive search effort.
Authorities have not yet confirmed the identities of the victims or released a cause of death. However, investigators say new information is beginning to shed light on the tragedy.
According to Conejos County Coroner Richard Martin, the two bodies showed no clear cause of death and no signs of trauma, CBS News reported.
Martin also told Denver 7 that the men had no visible injuries and there were no early signs of foul play. If trauma had been found, the case would have been turned over to federal investigators, since the bodies were discovered on federal land, per CBS News.
Autopsies are scheduled for Monday, Sept. 22, at the El Paso County Coroner’s Office, both outlets confirmed.
Andrew Porter and Ian Stasko, both 25, were in the area for an elk hunting trip. Porter’s fiancée, Bridget Murphy, told The Colorado Sun that his last contact came on the afternoon of Thursday, Sept. 11, when he shared his location. He had been sending updates to her and his family every few hours until that final message.
When the men failed to return, deputies responded to the Rio De Los Pinos Trailhead on Sept. 13 after receiving reports that they were overdue. Their vehicle was found, but the hunters were missing, according to press releases shared with PEOPLE.
Deputies grew concerned after finding camping gear and backpacks still inside the hunters’ vehicle, especially with heavy rain and rough weather in the area, according to the release. A large search followed, with help from air crews, county and state teams on the ground, dog units, drones, and local volunteers.
During the search, Bridget Murphy — who was set to marry Andrew Porter in just a few months — pleaded for people to help and held onto hope of seeing her fiancé again, The Sun reported.
Murphy said both Porter and Stasko were “very prepared outdoorsmen.” Still, she admitted the outcome could depend on many factors: if they were in the right state of mind, if they became disoriented or panicked, or if they had already been affected by hypothermia.
On September 18, 2025, Andrew Porter’s aunt, Lynne Runkle, shared an update on the GoFundMe page she organized to support search and rescue efforts.
“It is with a broken heart and through tears that I share this news,” she wrote. “Andrew and Ian have both been found deceased. Their bodies were discovered earlier today by Colorado Search and Rescue. I will provide another update tomorrow.”
She asked that people keep both families in their thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
