Utah authorities are investigating the deaths of a Colorado mother and her 6-year-old son, whose bodies were found in Canyonlands National Park on Jan. 8. Park rangers responded to a tip about a suspicious vehicle on the Shafer Trail and discovered the woman deceased outside the vehicle and the child unresponsive inside; the child later died at a hospital. Family members had reported them missing on Jan. 7. Based on current evidence, officials are treating the case as a homicide and suicide, and the investigation remains active.
Colorado Mother and 6-Year-Old Son Found Dead in Utah’s Canyonlands; Authorities Suspect Murder‑Suicide
Cavan Images/GettyCanyonlands National Park, Utah
Authorities in Utah are investigating after a Colorado mother and her 6-year-old son were discovered dead in Canyonlands National Park on Jan. 8. Officials believe the deaths may be the result of a homicide and suicide, though the inquiry remains active and details are limited.
San Juan County Sheriff’s Office said park rangers responded to a tip about a suspicious vehicle on the Shafer Trail at about 8:15 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 8. When first responders arrived, they found a woman deceased outside the vehicle and a young boy unresponsive inside. Emergency personnel performed life-saving measures at the scene; the child was transported to a hospital and later pronounced dead.
The sheriff’s office later confirmed the woman was the boy’s mother. Family members in Colorado had reported the pair missing on Wednesday, Jan. 7, the office said.
“Based on all evidence so far, this case is being investigated as a homicide and suicide,” the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release.
Authorities have not released the names of the victims, nor have they detailed a possible motive. The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation with assistance from park personnel; officers said they continue to follow leads and the investigation was ongoing as of Jan. 12.
Note: Out of respect for the deceased and their family, authorities have withheld identifying information while the investigation continues.
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