A 19-year-old Colorado Mesa University student was found dead in the Black Canyon area of Gunnison National Park, near Montrose, Colorado, on November 2, 2024. The discovery marked the end of an intensive six-day search operation that involved multiple law enforcement agencies and specialized rescue teams.
Montrose County Sheriff Gene Lillard described the situation as a tragedy. The Montrose County Sheriff’s Office initially announced Dallas Roberts’ disappearance on October 30, noting he was last seen on October 28 in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park area. The search concluded on November 2 when the sheriff’s office confirmed the discovery of Roberts’ body within the park.
Park rangers located Roberts’ vehicle on October 28, which crashed 150 feet off the road and down a hill. Roberts himself was not at the scene. The vehicle was reportedly speeding before it veered off the road.
Before the discovery of his remains, Sheriff Lillard mentioned the family’s significant concern, noting that they had also conducted independent searches and were actively cooperating in efforts to locate Roberts. Lillard expressed further worry due to extremely cold weather. He explained that drone footage helped emergency crews locate Roberts’ body in sagebrush about 200 feet below a bench partway down a granite cliff.
Park rangers could not respond immediately after the crash since they were on the North Rim of Gunnison. A cadaver dog from the Montrose and Mesa County Sheriff’s Offices also assisted in the search. A few days later, National Park Service officials discovered a sweater, later identified by Roberts’ family as his, about half a mile from the crash site.
The specific location where Roberts’ body was found presented significant challenges for recovery operations. Due to the steep terrain and precarious position, rescue teams had to employ a complex system of ropes and pulleys to recover his body from the canyon.
The Black Canyon area of Gunnison National Park is renowned for its exceptionally rugged terrain, featuring some of the steepest cliff faces in Colorado. The park, which encompasses the Gunnison River, is characterized by narrow gorges and deep ravines that can make navigation and rescue operations particularly challenging.
Roberts had strong connections to the local community. He was enrolled at Colorado Mesa University and formerly resided in Montrose, Colorado, where several of his family members still live. The university community has been notified of his passing.
The official cause of death has not yet been determined, according to authorities. The Montrose County Sheriff’s Office is continuing its investigation in coordination with park officials to establish the full sequence of events leading to Roberts’ death.
