DATE OF INCIDENT June 9, 2024
DEPUTY IN CHARGE: Deputy Rachel Maxfield
CASE NUMBER: 24P006586
Pitkin County, Colorado – June 11, 2024 – UPDATE: The Pitkin County Sheriff's Office is happy to report that Jennifer Hearn has been found alive and is receiving medical care. Jennifer's dog, Tawny, was located at approximately 9:30 a.m., enabling search crews to concentrate their efforts in a more targeted area, which subsequently led to Jennifer's discovery. PCSO asks that the public give friends and family the space that they need at this time to recover and care for Jennifer. 75-year-old Jennifer Hearn was reported missing on 06/09/2024 after not returning from her hike on Triangle Peak trail located in the Snowmass Canyon area of the Roaring Fork Valley, off Lower River Rd.
On Sunday, 06/09/2024, at approximately 8:39 p.m. it was reported to Pitkin County Sheriff's Office that Jennifer Hearn had not returned from her hike on Triangle Peak. The Triangle Peak Trail is a steep trail that sees limited foot traffic due to its difficult and rocky terrain and is located in the Snowmass Canyon area of the Roaring Fork Valley, off of Lower River Rd.
UPDATED SEARCH TIMELINE:
On June 9 at 8:57 p.m. a team of Mountain Rescue Aspen (MRA) volunteer members went to the trailhead of Triangle Peak to search the area. Members of MRA concluded their search at 2:40 a.m. due to lack of light.
Monday, June 10, the search resumed at 8:17 a.m. 30 members of MRA, one helicopter from Flight for Life, one fixed-wing Multi-Mission Aircraft from the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control, and one dog and handler team from Search and Rescue Dogs of the United States (SARDUS) continued their search of Triangle Peak and surrounding areas. Search teams are still in the field at the time of this release.
Today, June 11th, at 8:00 a.m., 30 members of Mountain Rescue Aspen, one helicopter from Care Flight of the Rockies, and numerous citizens continued their search of the Triangle Peak area with a focus on searching the scree fields and thick brush between the search paths from the previous day. At 9:30 a.m. at a residence near Triangle Peak, search teams found Jennifer’s dog, Tawny, which narrowed the search area to the steep rock-covered hillsides overlooking the Woody Creek area. During the focused search of the scree fields that cover the side of Triangle Peak, Jennifer was found at approximately 3:15 p.m.
Pitkin County Sheriff Michael Buglione and every member of the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank Mountain Rescue Aspen, Care Flight of the Rockies, Flight For Life, the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control, Search and Rescue Dogs of the United States (SARDUS) and every member of the public who participated in this successful rescue today.
MEDIA CONTACT
media@pitkinsheriff.com
970-400-7276