Possible belongings of woman missing since 2005 found

EAGLE COUNTY, Colo. — Searchers have found items that are believed to have belonged to a hiker who went missing nearly 19 years ago. 

Michelle Vanek was 35 when she disappeared while on a hike up Mount of the Holy Cross in Eagle County. According to a release from the Eagle County Sheriff’s Office, personal items that may have belonged to Vanek were found in that area by Vail Mountain Rescue Group. 

The above video aired in September 2023.

The items closely resemble things Vanek had with her when she vanished, the release said.

Vanek’s disappearance on Sept. 24, 2005 sparked a large-scale search effort. The first search spanned eight days and involved a team of 800 volunteers. 

There have been a number of searches since then. There was a breakthrough in 2023 when a boot forensically confirmed to be Vanek’s was found in the wilderness south of Vail.

“Finding these personal items is an emotional moment for all of us,” the release said. “For 19 years, Michelle’s family, friends, and this community have held on to hope. Sheriff James Van Beek has a search grid map from that very search hanging on his office wall, placed there by his predecessor as a constant reminder of a case unresolved and a family left incomplete. It has remained there as a symbol of our unwavering commitment to never stop searching for Michelle.”

The sheriff’s office is now waiting for forensic confirmation of the items.