The remains of Mitchell Dale Stehling have been found at Mesa Verde National Park/NPS
Seven years after a Texas man vanished while on a hike at Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado his remains have been found.
Mitchell Dale Stehling, 51, had set out in June 2013 for a short hike to the park's Spruce Tree House, a 130-room archaeological site with eight ceremonial chambers, known as kivas. The man's wife, Denean Stehling, speculated that her “directionally challenged” husband, hiking without water or a map on a hot and sunny day, might have been misled by a sign pointing to the Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum and inadvertently went off trail.
A family spotted him on the nearby Petroglyph Point Trail. This 2.4-mile-long, narrow, and rocky path requires hikers to clamber in places up a stone staircase to reach the top. There are places along the trail where it wouldn’t be hard for someone to wander into the backcountry.
The family told Stehling’s wife they leapfrogged past one another and were together at the petroglyph panel 1.4 miles from the trailhead, but they never saw him afterwards. Neither did anyone else, though later there were reports from a hiker on the Petroglyph Point Trail who claimed to have heard someone calling for help.
Mesa Verde officials announced Friday that an anonymous tip led to the discovery of human remains in a remote area of the park. Park law enforcement rangers, with assistance from ISB and Montezuma County Coroner’s Office, located and retrieved the remains on Thursday.
"Personal items located with the remains are consistent with identification, and the presumptive identity of the remains is that of Mitchell Dale Stehling," the park said in a release. "DNA analysis will be performed to positively identify the remains. There is no indication of foul play. The remains were found approximately 4.2 miles from the point where Stehling was last seen."
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Comments
Does anyone besides me think something isn't adding up? Isn't it seeming like there is a whole lot missing? nothing makes sense re this story. Almost 4.5 miles away from where last seen? Found according to news on east side of the park and west of Durango. They searched immediately and for days even with dogs and no trace? Either foul play is involved or he wanted to go away and disappear and die on purpose. could there be drug problems in the park? Or something else more nefarious? And no I don't beleive in any wierd superstitious reasons for this. Maybe in time there will be more detail and more answers.
The man simply got lost. Why is the question. His wife said he was "directionally challenged," meaning he was unable to keep track of where he was.
Watch "Vanished" it's a documentary on him on Amazon print prime, very interesting
"Amazon print prime"? I can't find this but really want to see the episode about Dale Stehling! I'll keep trying. Had hoped it would be on Discovery Plus, but it wasn't, or at least I couldn't find it. Please let me know if I'm on the wrong track. Thank you
Try YouTube and search for Two HIKERS missing in national parks. I was able to find Vanished, which aired on the HIstory Channel searching that way.
I think it makes perfect sense. It's easy to wander off a trail in vast area's like these and get lost very quickly. With the hot days and cold nights with no water and no gear, it is unlikely that one would survive if not found quickly. And it's hard to find someone in that vast wilderness. It's like finding a canoe in the ocean. It is a far stretch to say that this particular man would have run into some kind of drug trouble here. Sometimes things are just as simple as they are. People don't realize how dangerous the wilderness can be. They can't imagine they could die there. Yet they do. We need to respect nature.
I have to agree,!!! MY question is about the anonymous tip!?!
WHAT is THAT about? Why anonymity? Something is VERY WRONG with this ENTIRE THING!
So, the folks that called in the 'tip" were themselves in an off limits part of the park and did not want to get into trouble. This also means that they were not likley just hikers in an off limits area, but there to look for and steal artifacts that are within this huge park. There is a good reason that the park is very vast, yet only has a small few areas that are accesable to the public. It means that there are many other places that are yet to be reseaarched, cataloged and made into part of the public park. Sadly, fortune hunters are everywhere in the southwest, including in this park. Glad they found the guy and it ws not a UFO or ancient sprit as many of these websites have claimed.
4.5 miles is only a few hours walk from where last seen. It's not clear that area was searched; 4.5 miles is 2800 acres of "remote" and rough terrain... added to the 2.5 mile Petroglyph trail area, nearby Spruce tree trail that runs almost parallel. If he fell into a crevice or down a cliff and took some rocks down with him (remember rockslide at Spruce tree House?) he could be pretty hidden/buried.
Things like this happen all the time at national parks, there's books and Series about people going missing in the parks.
I'm with you. It does not make any sense where they say he was found. And who was out there wondering around in a closed area of the pary and just happened to find his bones ?
I have to agree that things are so weird with this case. His body found 7 years later by an anonymous tipster? Articles said the initial search lasted for 2 weeks with dogs, and the area where he was found had been searched. I watched a documentary on TV a few years back on several people that had disappeared in the same area. Weird. Maybe something to do with an Indian burial in the park? Foul play? More investigating needs to be done to protect the visitors..
Missing 411
Yes! I have been reading comments and not one person has mentioned 411 or the significance of the area. The spiritual side of this region is never mentioned either or the fact that the entire tribe up and disappeared from this area doesn't seem to be a topic discussed. The whole 4 corners region has numerous reports of strange phenomenon missing people is just the tip of the iceberg.
You should watch the missing 411 series on amazon video. Clusters of people missing in national parks around the county under mysterious corcumstances, dale was mentioned in it
When people hike "without a map and without water", as was stated in this case, and are described by their own spouse as being "directionally challenged", as was also stated, one has to believe this is just yet another classic case of foolish human error made in the harsh elements. When a person gets dehydrated and disoriented, they begin wandering, without realizing that they are actually making their condition worse and making it harder for people to find them. They do this out of desperation. It makes no sense. His body was found more than 4 miles from "where he was last seen", and to me, that sounds like an area wider than what the search teams would have covered with their dogs. It is also a very realistic amount of miles for a desperate, hot, confused, dying person to wander as they try to get help. Sad, but realistic.
Have you actually been there and hiked? It's not an easy trail to get lost on. Even if he has gotten lost on the pinion trail he would not have ended up down at the bottom of a canyon on the east side of the park. Not unless he willfully and purposely hiked the top trail at the very end of the hike where you can see the gift shop et of the spruce treehouse area. why would he go directly to hike the petroglyph trail rather than simply the spruce treehouse little walk right there to see the ruins as he had supposedly told his wife. Even if he had just decided spur of the moment to hike the Petroglyph trail it would have taken only about an hour and then you are right back wheee you started. Other people last saw him in an area close to the end of the hike. If he further and without water decided to hike the top road over to say balcony house or the sun temple how did he end up at the bottom of a canyon dying from natural causes. There is no way down but to jump or fall. Did he commit suicide? did someone take him there another way as in by car and hike in from canyon side? Was he invoved wi something illegal? Was he meeting up wi someone for some reason? What was his occupation? nothing on internet. Family says he's ex military. Did he know secrets. is it a cover up? What the heck is going on that is what I want to know. This is not the type of place you wonder off and get lost unless you want to. Even if he were disoriented from dehydration there area is fairly populated wi tourist espec on a Sunday in June. Someone would have seen him and helped.
yes it would be interesting for someone to cross reference the veteran/military status and or occupation/past occupations with a comprehensive list of those missing in National Parks across the US.... there are only a few entities out there that would be skiled/intelligent enough to leave neither hide nor hair....extra terrestrial alien option.....skilled guerilla warfare- illegal drug/human traffickers (of which I have heard rumors are actually scattered throughout US in national parks) and of course skilled military personell (our or foreign)-not sure what the purpose would be to capture/ use lawful American/ hikers/ hunters/ tourists.... since there are plenty of potential mindless people on the streets in America (not saying thats right just saying...) and lastly, of course there is the - it's a demon entity. To be honest, I don't know if in their totality the stats would be considered susicious or alarming considering there are 350 million Americans, probably 50 million illegal immigrants that live & work here that are actual lawful and just living, and then who knows how many illegal unlawful immigrants but this year alone 2 million illegally crossed the border, so lets assume every year there are at least 500,000 illegal unlawfuls....where do you think they go? heading for the hills, or the natiional parks might be possible. I used to hike when I was younger, I am a veteran and I have three grown daughters who have hiked most of the Appalachain, in the Rockies and many of the National Parks, it is true that there are some weird people out there but the majority out in those parks are simply nature loving, respectful, good people, so it seems odd that things would be happeing out in the wilderness and even more so that those in control of the Parks woudn't want to make a list and let people know who is out there and may still need help or to be found.
I'm Dale's older sister. Every so often I google his name and just read articles, watch videos about his case. My family and I were devasted to lose Dale in such a weird way. On June 9, 2023, we mark ten years since he went missing. I'm still not over it. He was my best bud in the world. You raised some interesting questions. I can clarify a couple of things, one is that Dale was not military, but our father was; we grew up as Army Brats from baby up. Dale did hike a lot, but really only in the pastures surrounding his home in the country. He was not, as I've seen elsewhere, a survivalist by any means, although he was pretty dang tough. He was physically disabled, due to a number of back surgeries that ultimately caused him to have a stooped over posture and a funny gait, but the man could walk for a long time, probably longer than the searchers would have thought. I went out to Mesa Verde on June 9, 2014, and hiked the Petroglyph Trail.. alone. There were two places where I lost the trail. Somehow, I got off and then back on the trail, thank God, and also when I reached a certain point, I walked out of foliage into a big clearing with a solid rock ground and a cliff with a drop off that took my breath away. No guard rails. Also, I could not see where the trail picked up across the clearing, and stood still for a time just slowly looking around, until I spotted a little bitty pile of rocks stacked one on top of another; I walked over to it and immediately saw the opening for the trail. It was an emotional experience, and I no longer go alone into the wilderness. We were able to have services for my brother, and he is buried under a big live oak tree on his property in South Texas. I will miss him for the rest of my life.
I am so sorry for your families loss. june 9th is my birthday so Dale's story on "Vanished" on the History Channel with Dave Paulides really hit me. I understand this was not a serious hike he went on, just a quick trip down a very busy trail. It seems like you picked up on the strangeness of the area. There is a lot of high strangeness in the area and I think your brother became part of it. I hope you, his wife and his son have some sort of closure, as much as can be expceted anyway. God Bless you all......
Yes, I agree with what you say. My husband was a great hiker and outdoorsman that thought he was going ¼mile to Spruce Tree House and got turned around on the trail without error. Totally human error.
I agree. Your explanation makes complete sense to me. The fact that he was directionally challenged told me he would have easily gotten lost. I didn't think about it from the standpoint of him being lethargic from extreme dehydration. I don't hike. I actually came across this information from a YouTuber named Mr. Ballen, who covered this story. He covered it about a month before Stehlings remains were found.
Agreed. Mistakes are made more readily when people are dehydrated. Doesn't sound like he was prepared well for this site. Perhaps once he realized he was off the trail, he panicked, which you need more fluids in your body if you're under stress. I find it a bit odd that the dogs couldn't get a scent on him and follow it. It probably took him several days to wander off 4 + miles. Dying of old age makes it seem like he didn't fall, he just got dehydrated and wasn't able to be found so I do to no food or drink.
I think a lot of people want every death in this circumstance to be a murder for their own entertainment. They don't necessarily know what happened that day and think the news and all the shows give all the info. People do odd things, the person who search that area could have taken their eyes off the ground for a second and that's where he was. Yes, a lot of people have gone missing there, but it is a destination. Of course thoes numbers would go up.
Failed searches happen all time. Elizabeth Smart; Eric Rudolph; the lis tis endless.
I'm more interested in the anonymous tipster. Who calls in an anonymous tip for finding skeletal remains? Seeing that the call came in from a person or persons in a remote part of the park, I wonder what they may have been doing there...
Even if the tipster was only hiking off-trail, I can certainly understand why he/she remained anonymous. Given the archaeological features at Mesa Verde, it appears there is no backcountry hiking and fines can be imposed.
Could have been an official person who was allowed to be hiking there but needs to remain anonymous. Sometimes illegal marijuana is found in our forests. What is interesting to me is that the person gave them tip of general location and enough information that they felt it was credible and even though whoever it was didn't give the specific location they didn't take long to find it. It's definitely mysterious. Nothing about the case makes sense. We may never know the real truth. Parks do not want a bad image as they are revenue. The family also has been unusually quiet.
If you've ever been involved with the legal system as a witness , you would know it's just a mess and you can end up being forced to testify over many years and appeals and LE interviews. I would guess the anonymous tipster did what I've done.... contact LE but just stay out of it. It was a death. Not necessary for tipster to get involved.
The " anonymous tipster" was more than likely someone who didn't want to be involved with any type of law enforcement for a variety of reasons.
The reason the tips were anonymous is because the part of the park they found him in we're off limits with no trespassing signs. He remained anonymous so he wouldn't get in trouble.
I would bet the tipster was pot hunting. Found more than expected, and reported it.
It's very possible for a “directionally challenged” individual, hiking without water or map on a hot and sunny day at that elevation and in that kind of brush and terrain, might have become lost, gone in the wrong direction, and eventually succumbed to the elements or even to one of the rattlers that are all over in that area. Those parts of the story raise absolutely no questions in my mind. That's rough, hot, dry, high elevation country where the air is thin and the winds disorienting. Some of us don't mind it at all, after ten to fifteen thousand years of getting used to it; but, for others, a deadly confusion certainly can come on quick.
However, when you add in the reports about an immediate search, with dogs, that lasted close to two weeks and covered the area where the body was found, it does seem strange. In June, in that country and at that elevation, it would have seemed that a body that large would have soon made itself known, either by advertising itself to aerial scavengers or to the noses of the search dogs or both. Why didn't it? Was it really there the whole time? If so, is the area actually so remote, so rugged, so brushy that a trained search team with trained search dogs spent two weeks scouring the area and still couldn't find a fresh body seven years ago? It does seem strange. Or, maybe the NPS just needs to hire the right kind of folks for their search teams in that kind of country, maybe the kind of folks who have had ten to fifteen thousand years to get used to it.
Then there are the other questions. Who does call in an anonymous tip after finding skeletal remains in a remote part of a national park? Was it actually an anonymous tipster or a tipster who wanted to remain anonymous? There's a difference. And, if the area actually is so remote, so rugged, so brushy that a trained search team with trained search dogs spent two weeks scouring the area and still couldn't find a fresh body seven years ago, then what was that anonymous tipster doing in that area, so remote, so rugged, and so brushy? Gathering pinions? I like pinions.
Without dna evidence we don't know if the skeleton is truly his. Just bc they found his id means nothing.
I don't know if I would say finding the Id means "nothing". A corpse with the Id was found, that is more than just a corpse or just and Id...
I am not puzzled by any of this. Let me clarify for yall. The first 2 days the search was around the 2 public trails in the park. Once the park made it public and posted a missing poster 2 days in, a family cam forward and said Dale was on the trail with them. At that point the dogs were brought in and focused only in the area where last seen. They did extensive search for 3 more days in the area. I stayed in the park for 11 days, after the 5th day the search was scaled back to only a few Rangers. I finally left the park after several days of being told we didn't get search today. So intense search was 5 days. All focused near where last seen. Another thing many people don't realize is Mesa Verde is a restricted park so not anyone can search. Only park employees. When the dogs came in they had to have Rangers with them. I think if the dogs would have been there day 1&2 they would have found him. The dog team was there 1 day and then another team returned on July21st. So it is very misleading when they say how extensively they searched.
Mrs. Stehling I am so glad you finally have closure. It seems that if there is one enduring lesson of SAR when a person fails to be found, it's that they have inevitably traveled outside of the search area. It seems that time after time when someone is not located this proves to be true in the end. Thank you for sharing your story with the world I just watched David Paulides show tonight and certainly wish your family peace.
I'm so sorry for your loss, Denean. I've thought about Dale since the airing of the program that featured his disappearence (I just can't recall the name of the program--"Vanished", maybe). I've prayed that the mystery would be solved. IF the remains were definitely of Dale, I'm sure you and your family, though grieving and very sad, had at least gotten closure and were able to give him a proper and moving burial. Please accept my deepest sympathy on your dear husband passing. God bless you.
I'm very sorry for your family's loss. I hope you now have some peace and closure after this ordeal. Prayers to you.
C'est fou vous étiez sur place? Pourtant votre pays a un grand nombre de sauveteurs ( bénévoles ou professionnels) dommages que le parc soir Restreint :/ car à écouter un doc français il y avait le lundi 10 juin il y avait 70 chercheurs à pied et à cheval et un hélicoptère ( peut-être que le youtubeur a de fsux chiffres
Et une journaliste vient au parc pour itw le rangers du parc en attendant elle va au parc et entend une voix d'homme qui dit j'ai besoin d'aide * une voix d'homme sur une portion de la promenade elle pense direct a l'homme disparu mais elle renocne à avancer plus sur le site qui n'est pas couvert par le réseau téléphonique elle va à l'entrée du parc prévenir les rangers qui déclarent qu'eux aussi on entendu une voix mais non trouver personne ( faille temporel ? Ou crevace on ne sera jamais car ils partent sur un incendie à Colorado springs...
Je suis français mais c'est histoire ma travaillé....
I'm very sorry for your loss. Thanks for adding this information.
I like Pinon nuts, as well. I used to live in Santa Fe New Mexico, so I've eaten my share of pinon nuts. However this area of Arizona is lower in elevation than where I lived in Santa Fe. I appreciate your comments about the tipster being anonymous versus asking for anonymity. I read that the NPS claimed the tipster was in an area that was off-limits. What does that mean? Is it true? He/She/Them could've simply been hiking there, but have been prepared unlike Dale Stehling and May Dale rest in peace.
Bonjour nous vivons en France exactement le même cas avec le petit Émile ( qui a était retrouvé ( sont crane) à 2kms du point se départ... il ya même eu un ancien major de la cia de votre pays qui avait donné la localisation ( via un don de voyance) ... 2024 France et super votre description de l'affaire je suis d'accord avec vous sur tout les points
We can toss things back and forth all day BUT when it all boils down to it, the odd thing from someone who does investigate things for $$ is why did it need an anonymous tip after 7 years for the remains to be found. They shouldn't have needed to be via anonymous tip unless it was from a person involved in the foul play. And does anyone know if the man was ever declared dead? Funny that 7 years is just the time when you would have been able to have him declared dead anyway?
I read that the anonymous tipster was most likely in an area that was off-limits (as no st the whole park is) so he would have been concerned about divulging his name when it was illegal for him to have been in that area.
Lots of weird comments in here. I was there about 1 month after he went missing and have to say quite irresponsible for ANYONE to hike a few miles in that terrain with no water. It's literally in the middle of nowhere and my guess he got dehydrated and fell but I do find it odd that the authorities won't give more detail. Lol but to hear the comments about drugs and such is funny. Yes I guess he could have tried to go down to look for souvenirs which is highly forbidden and paid the price of stupidity.
I've been following this for sometime. Glad the family is finally getting some closure even though it is truly heartbreaking. At the time he went missing, TWO people reported hearing calls for help but he couldn't be located. There was never any indication that drugs were involved so implying this is uncalled for. Also his family said he was an excellent experienced hiker and hiked frequently. May God bless his family.
Yeah, people heard him calling for help but oddly, his Remains were found over 4 miles from there. Walking an additional 4.5 miles in weather that was over 100 with no water seems unlikely. But as unlikely as it seems, that's prob what happened.
I agree. However, does anyone have a map pinpointing exactly where his remains were found in relation to the last known hiking trail he was seen on? I would like to know if his calls for help were "echoing" from his "found" site??
When someone gets turned around, lost, they don't always make the best decisions. And alot of the time it looks mysterious as to why or where they went/were. i don't think anything sinister happened. I've been to Mesa Verde with my wife and can see how hiking down into a canyon would lead you to walk until you found a way up as most are steep cliffs and end up miles away with no water. You might be suprised how little a drop we are in an endless ocean it's so easy to get lost and not be found. I think all the comments about wierd theory's is disrespectful to his wife and family. How sad to be visiting a park with your wife and have this happen. My heart goes out to Denean.
If it was a hot day and he became dehydrated he may have left the trail in search of a stream and then the mind will do strange things when you're dying of thirst
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