Woman's body found in an irrigation ditch In the summer of 1989, a promising young life was tragically cut short, leaving a lasting scar on the community. Tracey Lee Disbrow Ragains, a vibrant 17-year-old female, was living in Colorado Springs, Colorado. On the afternoon of July 8, she left a note for her roommates indicating she was taking a short walk to a nearby grocery store. It was the last time she was known to be alive.
She never returned home, sparking immediate concern among those who knew her.
The following day, a grim discovery was made miles away from her home. Tracey's body was found in an irrigation ditch in Weld County, southeast of Erie, Colorado. An autopsy would later reveal that she had suffered multiple stab wounds to her chest. The brutal nature of her death shocked the local community and left investigators with a complex and troubling case, particularly given the distance between where she was last seen and where her body was ultimately found.
As the investigation into her murder began, a sinister motive quickly came into focus. In the months leading up to her death, Tracey had become a key witness in a serious criminal case. She was set to testify against her former employer, Joe Linton, who was facing charges of arson and child sexual exploitation. Her cooperation with the El Paso County District Attorney's Office had been instrumental in building the case against him. This connection led investigators to strongly consider that her murder was an act of retaliation, a calculated effort to silence her permanently and prevent her testimony.
Despite having what they considered to be very strong leads early on, the investigation has been fraught with frustration and challenges over the years. No arrests have ever been made in connection with the murder of Tracey Disbrow Ragains. Her case remains an unsolved cold case, a persistent and haunting mystery for the Weld County Sheriff's Office. Her family and friends have been left without answers or closure, and the person or persons responsible for her violent death have never been brought to justice.
