Remains of missing Indianapolis man found after 13 months in Colorado national park

On Feb. 28, the National Park Service said rangers located the remains of Thomas Irwin of Indianapolis.

According to the National Park Service, Irwin was last seen over a year ago on Jan. 15, 2024. He was reportedly hiking the Petroglyph Point Trail.

According to the park, the Petroglyph Point Trail is a 2.4-mile loop. The trail is narrow, rugged, and rocky, with several steep drop-offs along the canyon. Once hikers reach the petroglyph panel, they are required to scramble up a large stone staircase using their hands and feet.

The park said the trail is rated moderately strenuous to strenuous, and hikers must register at the trailhead or the museum ahead of their trip.

The next day on Jan. 16, 2024, Irwin’s family contacted the park, and a search and rescue operation began. NPS said that during the initial 10-day search, Irwin was not located.

During 2024, park officials said they continued to search, ultimately locating Irwin’s remains on Friday.

“We sincerely appreciate and recognize the dedication of the Mesa Verde Resource and Visitor Protection Team and other park staff who continued the search for Mr. Irwin,” said Mesa Verde Superintendent Kayci Cook. “We are glad this provides some closure for his family.”

NPS said search and rescue crews used a human remains detection canine to locate Irwin in the original search area during what park officials called an off-trail grid search.

Mesa Verde National Park is located in southwest Colorado and is known for its preserved Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings.