DATE OF INCIDENT: December 13, 2025
CASE NUMBER: 25P014695
Media Contact: Parker Lathrop, Chief Deputy of Operations, Pitkin County Sheriff's Office
media@pitkinsheriff.com
970-400-7276
PITKIN COUNTY, CO (12/13/2025) —The Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office confirms that nineteen-year-old Stephen Bull, who was reported missing earlier this month, has been found deceased near Upper River Road in the Woody Creek area following an extensive, multi-agency search effort. Bull was reported missing after he was last seen in the Woody Creek area in the late afternoon of December 2, 2025.
Search efforts led by Mountain Rescue Aspen began immediately in locations where Stephen was last seen and in areas familiar to him. As days progressed, search operations expanded to broader areas based on developing information and search assessments. Efforts included coordinated ground searches, canine teams, multiple drone operations, aerial support and investigative work. Weather conditions, terrain, and changing environmental factors increasingly complicated search efforts over time, presenting additional challenges for responding searchers.
The Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office extends its deepest condolences to the individual’s family and loved ones and is grateful to the family for their cooperation, patience, and strength throughout this difficult process.
The search involved extensive coordination and support from multiple agencies and organizations, including the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office, Mountain Rescue Aspen, Pitkin County Open Space & Trails, the Colorado Search and Rescue Association, Eagle County, Vail Mountain Rescue Group, Garfield County, Garfield County Search and Rescue, Mesa County Search and Rescue, Summit County Rescue Group, Search and Rescue Dogs of the United States (SARDUS), the Aspen Police Department, and the Pitkin County Coroner who dedicated significant time, expertise, and resources to the effort. The Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office sincerely thanks all who assisted in the search.
The Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office recognizes that this news may be difficult for members of the community. Local support is available through the Aspen Hope Center, which provides crisis intervention and mental health services in the Roaring Fork Valley. Help is also available 24/7 through the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988, or by visiting 988lifeline.org. These resources are free, confidential, and available to anyone in crisis.
The Sheriff’s Office appreciates the community’s compassion, cooperation, and respect for the family’s privacy during this time.