In the small city of Trinidad, Colorado, the morning of February 11, 2022, began like any other for 81-year-old David George Shier and his wife, Rosemarie. She last saw her husband at their home around 11:00 a.m. before she left to run some errands. When she returned later that day, David was gone. His truck was still parked at the house, suggesting he had left on foot. Calls to his phone went unanswered, and after contacting friends and family who had not heard from him, the family reported him missing. David, a gentle and kind man well-known in his community, was living with cognitive issues, including possible dementia and expressive aphasia, a condition that made it difficult for him to communicate his thoughts, though he could understand others. This made his disappearance all the more concerning for his loved ones.
The last known sighting of David was captured on a neighbor's trail camera, which showed him walking away from his property around noon on the day he vanished. He was wearing a black jacket or hoodie, blue jeans, and boots, and possibly a black cap. The Las Animas County Sheriff's Office, along with numerous other agencies and volunteers, launched an extensive search effort. Teams on foot, on ATVs, and on horseback combed the area, while drones and aircraft provided aerial support. The search was widespread, covering the city of Trinidad, the surrounding Las Animas County, and beyond. Despite these exhaustive efforts, which continued for a significant time, no trace of David was found. His daughters, Morgan and Darby, described the uncharacteristic nature of his disappearance, noting that while he might have gone out during the day without telling anyone, it was highly unusual for him not to make contact.
The days turned into weeks, and then months, with no answers for the Shier family. The community was alerted through a SILVER alert, and authorities had to dispel false rumors that he had been found, urging people to keep the missing person posters up. The case grew cold, leaving his family in a state of painful uncertainty. Adding a strange and distressing layer to their search for answers, more than a year after David's disappearance, the local county coroner came under investigation by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation for misconduct. This development brought renewed, albeit complex, attention to David's case, deepening the mystery and leaving his loved ones to navigate a quest for truth that had become fraught with unexpected and troubling questions. The overview of this case is one of a beloved elderly man with health challenges who seemingly vanished from his home, sparking a massive but unsuccessful search and leaving his family grappling with a profound and enduring loss, complicated by external events that cast a shadow over their pursuit of closure.
Last Seen: Feb 11, 2022
