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Crime Solvers Central
302 Cases Solved. Advancing justice for missing persons, unsolved homicides, unidentified and unclaimed remains.

Case Description

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Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP111833) and 4 other sources
In late 1973, 25-year-old Margaret Renee Armbrust and her husband, Anthony Armbrust, relocated from California to an apartment in Golden, Colorado. Not long after their move, the couple vanished. The last known communication from them were letters sent to their church members in San Diego, asking them to retrieve their belongings and their puppy. Margaret was last seen on January 1, 1975. Concerned church members went to the couple's apartment to find it empty, though the puppy was discovered in good health. Anthony Armbrust was reportedly terminally ill at the time of their disappearance.

The case took a significant turn on February 11, 1974, when two teenagers hiking on Guanella Pass in Park County, Colorado, discovered a body partially frozen in the snow and ice at the bottom of a steep, rocky area. For decades, the identity of this individual remained unknown, and he was buried as a John Doe in Fairplay. It wasn't until October 2020 that advances in forensic science provided a breakthrough. The remains were exhumed in 2017 to collect DNA, and through the efforts of the DNA Doe Project and the use of genetic genealogy, the man was identified as Anthony Armbrust. Investigators believe that due to his failing health, he and Margaret may have come to the Colorado mountains with the intention of ending their lives. It is theorized that Anthony may have been climbing the rocks to find a higher place to jump when he slipped and fell.

Despite the identification of her husband's remains, Margaret Armbrust is still missing. Her disappearance remains an active investigation with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. The circumstances surrounding the couple's move to Colorado and their subsequent disappearance point to a deeply troubling situation. While the discovery and identification of Anthony's remains have answered some questions, the fate and whereabouts of Margaret continue to be a mystery. The overview of the case suggests a tragic story of a couple facing a terminal illness who traveled to a new state, only for one to be found deceased and the other to vanish without a trace, leaving behind unanswered questions and a lingering sense of loss for those who knew them.

Last Seen: Jan 1, 1975

Possible Unidentified Matches (2)

Unidentified remains cases whose details are consistent with this person, ranked by how closely they compare. Fields that are unknown in either case are left out of the score.

78%Possible
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 25–40 vs 25 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 77%95 mi away, same state
TimingFound 12 years after last seen
Height 100%5'5" vs 5'4"
Weight 100%115 lb vs 125 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
76%Possible
Jane Doe — Brighton, Colorado - unidentified case UP16011
Jane Doe — Brighton, Colorado
UP16011 • Found Jan 8, 1994
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 85%Est. 18–35 vs 25 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 96%27 mi away, same state
TimingFound 19 years after last seen
Height 100%5'3" vs 5'4"
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown

These comparisons are generated automatically from public NamUs case data and are not confirmed identifications. Only DNA, dental or fingerprint comparison by investigators can confirm an identity. If you believe two cases are connected, contact the agency handling the unidentified case.

Unidentified photos are blurred because many are post-mortem. Tap a photo to reveal it.