May 16 – CBI – Conejos County, CO – The Conejos County Sheriff's Office, in conjunction with numerous assisting agencies, is continuing an extensive search for 64-year-old Rodney Guilinger, who went missing on April 16, 2025. Mr. Guilinger suffers from cognitive impairment and requires daily medication, raising significant concerns for his well-being. His truck was located, stuck on Forest Service Road 380 in Conejos County on April 17, 2025.
"We are dedicating every available resource and working tirelessly with our partners to locate Rodney Guilinger," said Conejos County Sheriff Garth Crowther. "We understand the urgency of this situation, and are making every reasonable effort to find him.”
Timeline of Search Efforts:
April 16, 2025:
- Approximately 19:40 hours: Colorado State Patrol Dispatch Center received a call from Patrice Guilinger reporting her husband, Rodney Guilinger, as possibly missing.
- Deputies contacted Patrice, who stated Rodney dropped her off at her workplace in Fort Garland around 07:30 hours, indicating he would be scouting hunting areas between La Jara and the New Mexico border, returning between 17:00 and 18:00 hours.
- Patrice advised that Rodney has high blood pressure, takes medication, has onset dementia, and had his medication and luggage with him. She also noted he has experienced blackouts due to his blood pressure in the past.
- Attempts to contact Rodney's phone went directly to voicemail.
- A BOLO (Be on the Lookout) was issued for Rodney and his silver 2021 Dodge Ram (no front plate).
- Deputies began searching from the New Mexico border northward.
April 17, 2025
- The truck was located stuck off of Forest Service Road 380.
- Initial ground searches in the general area yielded no signs of Rodney.
- Requests for tracking dogs from Alamosa Sheriff’s Office and air support from Flight for Life were made, but both were unavailable due to weather.
- Rio Grande Sheriff’s Office and Mineral County Search and Rescue assisted with ground searches until dark.
- A nationwide missing persons bulletin was issued through Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Colorado Information Analysis Center (CIAC).
April 18, 2025:
- Deputies, Forest Service Officers, and Search and Rescue teams conducted systematic ground searches in teams.
- Bad weather and heavy snowfall prevented air support and tracking dogs from assisting.
- Teams searched the approximately 6-mile stretch from the vehicle's location, with no signs of Rodney.
April 19, 2025:
- Search teams continued ground efforts, with Forest Service officers using snowmobiles to check higher elevation areas.
April 20, 2025:
- Search teams continued to comb the designated areas.
April 21, 2025:
- Search and Rescue teams established a command post for a Flight for Life helicopter, which conducted an aerial search with no success.
- Ground search teams and a drone were also deployed.
April 22, 2025:
- Springfield Police K9 deployed, who tracked Rodney’s scent to a pond near a cabin.
- Arrangements were made for an underwater search team due to the K9's indications.
April 23, 2025:
- Alamosa Sheriff’s Office K9 tracked to the same pond location, indicating interest in the ice.
- Arrangements were made with Colorado Parks and Wildlife Officer for an underwater drone search on April 28, 2025.
April 24, 2025:
- Sheriff Garth Crowther and Undersheriff Blake Crowther revisited the pond. While the ice began to melt, nothing was visible.
April 25, 2025:
- Sheriff Crowther and a search and rescue member returned to the pond and cabin area with a drone, again finding nothing.
April 26, 2025:
- Sheriff Crowther and U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement conducted another drone search of the area with no new findings.
April 28, 2025:
- Multiple Colorado Parks and Wildlife Officers, Forest Service Officers, Sheriff, and Undersheriff conducted underwater drone searches in both ponds in the area. Nothing was found.
- Searchers then walked the river to continue their efforts.
April 29, 2025:
- A Forest Service Officer, Sheriff, and Undersheriff returned to the truck's location for another search, with no new discoveries.
May 1, 2025:
- Multiple deputies, Sheriff Crowther, Undersheriff Crowther, Members of the Bloodhound Man Trackers, Springfield Police Department, and Montrose County Sheriff’s Office conducted extensive K9 searches.
- Strong winds hampered K9 efforts, leading to arrangements for a future search.
- Air support was requested but unavailable due to weather.
May 6-7, 2025:
- Approximately 12 inches of snow fell, suspending search operations.
May 8, 2025:
- Sheriff Crowther conducted a personal search for new evidence or predator tracks, but found none.
May 12, 2025:
- Deputies, Sheriff Crowther, Undersheriff Crowther, Members of the Bloodhound Man Trackers, and Denver Police Department conducted another K9 search, yielding no new leads.
- A Department of Fire Prevention and Control plane assisted with an aerial search, finding nothing.
The Conejos County Sheriff’s Office extends its gratitude to all agencies who have assisted in this ongoing effort, including: Colorado Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Forest Service, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Mineral County Search and Rescue, Rio Grande County Sheriff’s Office, Alamosa County Sheriff’s Office, Bloodhound Man Trackers, Springfield Police Department, Costilla County Sheriff’s Office, Flight for Life, Air Guard, Department of Fire Prevention and Control, Montrose County, Powers County, and LoJack.
Anyone with information regarding Rodney Guilinger's whereabouts is urged to call 911 or the Conejos County Sheriff’s Office at 719-589-5807.