Lightning strike kills two elk hunters in Colorado wilderness, coroner says
Porter and Stasko, both 25, died after a storm as they sought to reach their vehicle in the Rio Grande National Forest; remains recovered a week after they disappeared.
Two 25-year-old elk hunters were killed by a lightning strike in the Rio Grande National Forest in Conejos County, Colorado, authorities said. Andrew Porter of Asheville, North Carolina, and his friend Ian Stasko of Salt Lake City, Utah, were last heard from on Sept. 11 after embarking on a hunting trip that began Sept. 7. Their remains were recovered Sept. 18, roughly two miles from the trailhead, found beneath a tree with slight burns, according to Conejos County Coroner Richard Martin. Martin told The Colorado Sun that the deaths were likely instantaneous, describing the scene as a sudden, fatal event rather than a drawn-out injury.
Porter’s fiancée, Bridget Murphy, said on social media that the couple was caught in a storm and had been attempting to return to their car when struck. Murphy wrote that Porter was an experienced outdoorsman who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, and she expressed gratitude that they were found so they could be at peace.
According to Conejos County Sheriff Garth Crowther, Porter and Stasko were found with one daypack between them, and both were wearing camouflaged clothing. They were discovered near one another in the rugged terrain. Murphy had previously said she last heard from Porter via a satellite communication device on Sept. 11, and that the device had not communicated since due to the inclement weather.
The two men had spent several days in the wilderness after arriving Sept. 7, spending the night at the trailhead, moving to a campsite two miles north for a few days, then heading south toward the trailhead and their car. Murphy said Porter had been trying to reach the vehicle when the storm hit on Sept. 12. The satellite device reportedly failed to relay their location during the bad weather, complicating the search.
When the couple failed to respond to calls and messages, a large-scale search and rescue operation was launched. Helicopters, dog teams, drones, ATVs, local volunteers and multi-county and state agencies participated in the effort. A GoFundMe was created to support the search, raising more than $78,000 before it was deactivated.
The incident underscores the dangers posed by sudden weather changes in high-altitude, forested terrain. Weather patterns in the region can shift rapidly, creating conditions that local authorities say can lead to fatal accidents even for experienced outdoorspeople. Officials note that while lightning is a well-known hazard in mountain environments, incidences of fatal strikes remain rare, making this event notable for the local community and outdoor recreation networks.
According to authorities, the coroner’s office will conduct a formal autopsy process to confirm the exact times and circumstances of death, but the striking evidence collected at the scene has led investigators to conclude a lightning strike was the cause. The Colorado Sun and local investigators emphasized that the storm-related incident occurred during a period of unsettled weather that affected portions of southern Colorado during mid-September, with weather advisories in effect at the time.
Porter and Stasko’s families and friends have been coping with the loss as the community processes the tragedy. Local search and rescue groups and wildlife agencies noted the importance of preparedness for backcountry trips, including staying informed about weather forecasts and carrying communications gear capable of withstanding rugged environments. Authorities continued to remind hikers and hunters to monitor storm systems and to plan expeditions with safety in mind, especially when venturing into remote wilderness areas.