In the summer of 2000, a young man named Odell Vest, a member of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, vanished from the small community of Towaoc, Colorado. At 21 years old, Odell was last seen on approximately July 10th or 11th at a house party taking place in a residence on Lafayette Street. After that night, he was never heard from again. Those who knew him described him as someone who was not known to travel far, and he did not possess a driver's license, making his sudden disappearance all the
more perplexing to his family and community. His case remained a mystery for years, a painful open wound for those who cared for him.
The circumstances surrounding Odell's disappearance were scarce, leaving investigators with very little to go on in the initial stages. For a long time, there were few available details concerning what might have happened to him. The Ute Mountain Tribal Police Department was involved in the case from the beginning, but the passage of time brought no new leads or answers. The silence in the case was deafening, and for nearly two decades, Odell's family was left to wonder about his fate. Hope for answers dwindled as the years turned into a decade, and then nearly two, with no sign of Odell or any information about his whereabouts.
In a significant development, the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Denver Division reopened the case. This renewed focus came as part of a national initiative to address the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons. Investigators now believe that Odell Vest was murdered. After reviewing his case among other cold cases on reservations in southwest Colorado, the FBI determined that his murder is a potentially solvable case and is actively seeking assistance from the public. A reward of up to $10,000 is being offered for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the individuals responsible for his death. This has brought a renewed, albeit somber, sense of purpose to the investigation, as authorities are now committed to bringing closure to Odell's family and the community that has mourned his absence for so long.Last Seen: Jul 10, 2000
