Kaden Sites disappeared during a solo turkey hunt near Mount Shavano, and authorities said foul play is not suspected.
SALIDA, Colo. — A 27-year-old Colorado man who vanished during a solo turkey hunting trip was found dead Saturday near Tabeguache Creek after a 10-day search through rugged terrain in Chaffee County, authorities said.
Kaden Sites, of Salida, had been missing since April 15, when he left for a short hunting trip near Mount Shavano and did not return for a doctor’s appointment later that afternoon. The discovery ended a search that drew law enforcement officers, search and rescue crews, aircraft, dog teams and volunteers into steep, heavily wooded country southwest of Salida. Officials said foul play is not suspected, but Sites’ cause of death had not been released.
Sites left for the solo hunt at about 1:30 p.m. April 15 and was expected back in town for a 3:45 p.m. appointment, according to the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office. When he failed to arrive, family members searched for him and found his truck near the Blanks Cabin Trailhead on Shavano Mountain. His cellphone was inside the vehicle, but the battery was dead. Local search teams were deployed that evening, beginning an effort that would stretch across more than a week of cold, rough and difficult mountain conditions. Sites was believed to have had a shotgun and binocular pack with him when he disappeared.
Volunteer searchers found Sites’ body April 25 in wilderness near Tabeguache Creek, about 1.5 miles from where his truck had been located, authorities said. The Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office, Chaffee County Search and Rescue and the Chaffee County Coroner’s Office recovered the body. Sheriff Andy Rohrich said the search had carried hope until the end. “Our hearts go out to the Sites family and friends,” Rohrich said. He said Chaffee County had lost “a wonderful member” of the community and that he was thankful the family would have some level of closure.
The search included dozens of agencies and more than 100 searchers at different points, according to local reports and officials. Crews used dog teams, drones, helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft while ground searchers moved through off-trail terrain with steep slopes, heavy brush and downed timber. Officials said more than 6,000 search hours were spent looking for Sites after he was reported missing. Rohrich said the terrain was one of the biggest challenges for search crews. He described the area as dangerous but said teams and volunteers remained steady despite the conditions. Authorities also asked the public to stay out of the search area while aircraft and crews were working.
The search unfolded in a mountainous part of central Colorado near the Sawatch Range, where trails and drainages can quickly turn remote beyond parking areas and trailheads. Blanks Cabin Trailhead is used by hikers and hunters heading toward Mount Shavano and nearby backcountry. Sites’ disappearance drew wide attention around Salida, where family members and friends shared information and watched the search grow. His sister, Hannah Sites, said during the effort that the family felt comforted by the number of people who cared. “We’re just feeling very fortunate that there are so many people who really care,” she said while the search was still underway.
Authorities have not said exactly what happened after Sites left his truck or how long he may have survived after he disappeared. Rohrich said after the body was found that he believed Sites was no longer alive when the search began, a conclusion he said brought some relief to crews who had worried he might have been suffering while they searched. Investigators have not released medical findings, and the coroner’s office had not announced a cause or manner of death. The sheriff’s office said the case remained under further investigation, though officials said there was no indication of foul play.
Rohrich thanked neighboring counties, volunteers and search teams that joined the effort, saying they had stepped in when Chaffee County needed help. He said the family was grateful for the support and that the outcome was painful for the searchers as well as loved ones. “There was always a measure of hope that Kaden would be found alive,” Rohrich said. “Thank you to everyone who joined in the efforts to bring Kaden home. It is such a loving community we have.” Family members also pointed to Chaffee County Search and Rescue teams, whose members spent long days in difficult country before Sites was found.
By Tuesday, the search had ended and Sites’ body had been recovered. The next step is the completion of the coroner’s investigation, which is expected to determine the cause of death and close the remaining questions about what happened during the April 15 hunting trip.
Author note: Last updated April 28, 2026.