On the evening of December 16, 2025, law enforcement in San Miguel County, Colorado, responded to an incident along Highway 145 just west of the Society Turn roundabout near Telluride. A motorist flagged down a deputy at the top of Lawson Hill to report seeing a body on the side of the road on Keystone Hill. Deputies immediately shut down the highway to investigate the scene, where they located the deceased individual.
The San Miguel County Sheriff's Office subsequently identified the body as that of 53-year-old male Jeremy Hepp, a resident of Colorado Springs.
Sheriff Dan Covault confirmed that the investigation determined Hepp died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Authorities examined his vehicle, which was parked nearby, and found it had only five miles of fuel remaining. Investigators concluded that he likely drove away from his home until the vehicle was nearly out of gas before pulling over. No money or other significant resources were found in his possession at the scene.
Simultaneously, family members in Colorado Springs had contacted police to report Hepp missing and requested a welfare check. Reports indicated he had recently lost his job as a manufacturing supervisor and was experiencing significant mental health challenges. The missing person report was filed just minutes before his body was discovered in Telluride, a timing authorities described as a sheer coincidence.
Given the determination of suicide, there were no suspects involved, and no arrests were made in connection with the death. The Sheriff’s Office concluded the investigation without seeking criminal charges. Hepp is survived by his wife, parents, brother, two children, and a grandchild. Services were arranged through the Crippin Funeral Home.
