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Remains Of Man Who Went Missing At Mesa Verde National Park Found

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Published Date

September 18, 2020
The remains of Mitchell Dale Stehling have been found at Mesa Verde National Park/NPS

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

Submitted by Ana on November 25, 2020 - 1:09am.

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. 


Submitted by kinkane on January 4, 2021 - 10:32am.

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...


Submitted by Shanti on January 18, 2021 - 3:17pm.

Missing 411


Submitted by Dave on January 19, 2021 - 7:01pm.

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


Submitted by Patty on March 3, 2021 - 6:57pm.

Watch "Vanished" it's a documentary on him on Amazon print prime,  very interesting

 


Submitted by Joan on March 23, 2021 - 11:12pm.

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.


Submitted by Joan on March 24, 2021 - 11:03am.

"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 


Submitted by David. on April 26, 2021 - 11:55am.

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. 


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