William J. Worley, a 61-year-old contractor and family man, was last seen on July 30, 2010, in Redstone, Colorado. An experienced outdoorsman who frequently hiked in the area, Worley was reportedly seen on the East Creek Trail. At the time of his disappearance, he was the president of a construction company in Carbondale and had been a resident of Pitkin County for many years. When he was last seen, he was believed to be wearing an orange raincoat and blue jeans.
Concern grew after he failed to make contact with family or friends. A few days later, his Nissan Pathfinder was discovered at the trailhead of the East Creek Trail, prompting an extensive search of the surrounding 50 square miles.
The initial search efforts, led by the Pitkin County Sheriff's Office, spanned several weeks but yielded no clues as to Worley's whereabouts. For over a decade, his disappearance remained a mystery, leaving his family without answers and leading to speculation within the community about what might have happened to him. The case was a somber reminder of the unforgiving nature of the vast Colorado backcountry, and for twelve years, the Worley family lived with the uncertainty of their loved one's fate.
In September 2022, a significant breakthrough in the case occurred when a hunter discovered human remains in the rugged backcountry terrain near Redstone. The remains were recovered by the Pitkin County Sheriff's Office and sent for forensic analysis. In November 2022, through the use of dental records, the remains were positively identified as those of William Worley. The Pitkin County Coroner's Office determined that the cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head, though the manner of death remains undetermined and the case is still under investigation. The discovery of his remains, while tragic, finally provided a measure of closure to a family that had waited for answers for more than a decade.Last Seen: Jul 30, 2010
