Boy And Girl Disappeared In Colorado – 5 Years Later They Were Found In A Tree

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The Mysterious Disappearance of Aldrich Wayne and Ara Marorrow

In June 2014, the serene beauty of the San Isabel National Forest in Colorado became the backdrop for a chilling mystery that would haunt the families of two young adventurers for years. Aldrich Wayne, a 22-year-old photographer, and his girlfriend, 23-year-old geology student Ara Marorrow, set out on a hiking expedition to capture the stunning rock formations of the area. Their journey, however, would end in tragedy, leaving behind a trail of unanswered questions.

On June 15, 2014, Aldrich and Ara began their hike early in the morning, the sun just beginning to rise over the towering spruce trees. They parked their blue Jeep Cherokee at the Mountain Duth trailhead, one of the less-traveled paths in the forest. Ara made a final call to her mother, assuring her they would return by Sunday evening. Little did anyone know that this would be their last contact with the outside world.

Aldrich, an aspiring naturalist photographer, was eager to capture the perfect shot of the unique rock formations at the plateau. Ara, with her geological hammer in hand, planned to collect samples for her graduate thesis. Their intentions were pure, their excitement palpable, as they embarked on what they thought would be a simple weekend adventure.

The first mile of the trail was straightforward, but as they ventured deeper into the forest, the path became increasingly difficult to navigate. At 1:20 PM, Aldrich made the last entry in his GPS tracker, indicating they were about four miles from the trailhead near a rocky outcrop. After that, they seemed to vanish without a trace.

When Sunday evening came and went without a call from the couple, their families began to worry. Ara’s mother repeatedly tried to reach her daughter, but the phone was unavailable. By 10:30 PM, Aldrich’s father contacted the rescue service. The dispatcher initially dismissed the call, suggesting that experienced hikers often delayed their returns. However, when Monday morning arrived with still no word, an official search was launched.

The search team found Aldrich’s Jeep Cherokee parked at the trailhead, locked and undisturbed. Inside, everything appeared normal—his denim jacket was on the back seat, and there were no signs of a struggle. The rescue teams split into groups and began searching the area, but their efforts yielded nothing. Days passed, and despite the involvement of volunteers and experienced rangers, there was still no sign of Aldrich and Ara.

On the ninth day of searching, a breakthrough occurred when rescuers discovered an old campsite about two miles from where the dogs had lost the trail. Traces of a fire were found, but experts determined it had been cold for at least two weeks. With no other leads, the search was officially called off after three weeks, and the case was reclassified as a disappearance under unexplained circumstances.

Aldrich’s father, William Wayne, refused to accept this outcome. He believed that the forest could not simply swallow two people without a trace. He vowed to find answers, and the families hired a private investigator, Michael Thornton, to delve deeper into the mystery. Thornton was known for his relentless pursuit of truth in complex disappearance cases.

As Thornton began his investigation, he uncovered troubling details. He learned that illegal loggers had been operating in the area around the time of Aldrich and Ara’s disappearance. This information led him to suspect that the couple might have stumbled upon something dangerous. But as the months turned into years, the case grew cold, and hope faded.

On the fifth anniversary of their disappearance, a geologist named Eliza Reynolds was conducting geological surveys in the same area. During her work, she made a horrifying discovery high in the branches of an old spruce tree—two human bodies, almost blackened with age, hanging lifelessly. One was wearing a light pink fleece jacket, matching the description of Ara’s clothing. The other wore a dark t-shirt with a National Geographic logo, consistent with Aldrich’s attire.

Eliza quickly reported her findings to the authorities, and a team was dispatched to recover the bodies. As forensic investigators examined the scene, they noted the methodical way the bodies were suspended and the lack of any signs of struggle. The bodies had been hanging for five years, and the discovery raised more questions than answers.

Preliminary autopsy results revealed that Aldrich had suffered blunt force trauma to the head, while Ara died from asphyxiation. Disturbingly, it was also revealed that Ara was pregnant at the time of her death, adding another layer of tragedy to the already horrific situation. The investigation shifted to a homicide case, and the focus turned to a man named Gordy Kovatch, a hermit known to have lived in the area.

As the investigation progressed, it became clear that Gordy had a history of aggression towards hikers and was suspected of illegal activities, including logging. Witnesses had reported encounters with him, describing a tall man with a graying beard who warned them to stay away from his territory. The pieces of the puzzle began to align, suggesting that Gordy may have been involved in the couple’s disappearance.

Despite the evidence, Gordy remained elusive. Investigators learned that he had undergone knee surgery shortly before the couple went missing, making it physically impossible for him to have moved the bodies alone. This led to speculation that he may have had accomplices or that he was working with a group of illegal loggers.

As the investigation continued, the haunting memories of Aldrich and Ara lingered in the minds of their families and the community. The forest, once a place of beauty and adventure, had transformed into a site of tragedy and loss. The search for the truth would not end until justice was served for the young couple whose dreams were cut short in the depths of the San Isabel National Forest.

In the end, the case of Aldrich Wayne and Ara Marorrow serves as a chilling reminder of the dangers that can lurk in the wilderness, and the secrets that nature can keep hidden. The forest, with its towering trees and picturesque landscapes, became a silent witness to a horrific crime, leaving behind a haunting legacy that would resonate for years to come.