Body believed to be missing woman
Felix Doligosa Jr., Rocky Mountain News
Tuesday, March 6, 2007
DOUGLAS COUNTY - Searchers found a body Monday afternoon in Pike National Forest that was believed to be a woman who has been missing since last week.
Carolyn Gjendem, 52, of Castle Rock, was reported missing Thursday.
A person living at the end of Jackson Creek Road spotted the woman's Chevrolet Blazer parked nearby Thursday but did not report the vehicle until Saturday, said Paul Miller, a member of Douglas County Search and Rescue.
Gjendem, who has hiked and backpacked in the past, is believed to have been hiking in the national forest, Miller said.
Searchers spotted footprints along Rampart Range Road and followed them when they left the road. The footprints led searchers to the body, which was found behind a large boulder and underneath a rock overhang, said Deputy Cocha Heyden, spokeswoman for the Douglas County Sheriff's Office.
They found the body about 2:20 p.m., Heyden said. The body was about six miles from Gjendem's vehicle.
Family members were notified that a body was found, but Heyden said identification will have to come from the Douglas County coroner's office.
She said a death investigation will be conducted but added that "there did not appear to be anything at the scene to indicate foul play or suspicious circumstances."
She said there were no obvious signs of trauma on the body.
Cliffs and snow as deep as several feet dominated the heavily wooded area.
"The terrain is difficult," Miller said.
Rescuers from Douglas County, assisted by members of Arapahoe Rescue Patrol, El Paso County Search and Rescue and Douglas County Park officers, had been combing the area since Saturday night.
An anonymous man donated the use of his helicopter to help in the search.
Friends and family also helped with the search, which was conducted on foot and on ATVs.
Searchers guided by footprints
The body may be that of Carolyn Gjendem, 52, missing since Thursday.
doligosaf@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-2970
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