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Three found dead at remote Rocky Mountain campsite were trying to escape society, stepsister says

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Three found dead at remote Rocky Mountain campsite were trying to escape society, stepsister says


DENVER (AP) — The stepsister of a Colorado woman who was found dead along with her sister and teenage son at a remote Rocky Mountain campsite says the women fled into the wilderness after struggling to cope with societal changes in recent years, but they were unequipped to survive off the grid.

Exposed to several feet of snow, chills below zero and with no food found at their camp, Christine Vance, Rebecca Vance and Rebecca’s son likely died of malnutrition and hypothermia, according to the autopsies released this week. Authorities haven’t released the boy’s name.

Those reports contained another chilling detail that brought stepsister Trevala Jara to tears: The 14-year-old boy’s body was found with Jara’s favorite, blessed rosary that she gave the group before they left.

“God was with them,” said Jara, who still hasn’t mustered the strength to remove the rosary from the hazard bag. But Jara, who tried to convince them not to go, has questions.

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“Why would you want to do this knowing that you would leave me behind?” she said through tears. “Why didn’t you listen to me and my husband?”

The camp and the teen’s body were first discovered by a hiker wandering off trail in July. The Gunnison County Sheriff’s Office found the two women’s bodies the following day, when they searched the campsite and unzipped the tent. All three had been dead for some time. Strewn across the ground were empty food containers and survival books. Nearby, a lean-to extended near a firepit.

The sisters from Colorado Springs, about an hour south of Denver, had been planning to live off the grid since the fall of 2021, Jara said. They felt that the pandemic and politics brought out the worst in humanity.

They weren’t conspiracy theorists, said Jara, but Rebecca Vance “thought that with everything changing and all, that this world is going to end. … (They) wanted to be away from people and the influences of what people can do to each other.”

Jara remembers Rebecca Vance as a bit reserved, sharp as a whip, and someone who could read through a 1,000-page book in days. Vance’s son was homeschooled and a math whiz, Jara said.

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Christine Vance was more outgoing, charismatic and wasn’t at first convinced on the idea to escape society, Jara said, “but she just changed her mind because she didn’t want our sister and nephew to be by themselves.”

Rebecca and Christine Vance told others they were travelling to another state for a family emergency. They told Jara of their plans, but not where they would set up camp. They watched YouTube videos to prepare for their life in the wilderness, but they were woefully underprepared, Jara said.

Jara said she tried everything short of kidnapping to keep them from leaving, but nothing worked. Now, Jara wants to warn others about the risks of surviving in the wilderness.

“I do not wish this on anybody at all,” Jara said. “I can’t wait to get to the point where I’m happy and all I can think of is the memories.”

___

Bedayn is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

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Colorado

Bear With 3 Cubs Crashes Into Colorado Home, Attacks Man

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Bear With 3 Cubs Crashes Into Colorado Home, Attacks Man


A black bear with three cubs attacked a man in his Colorado home after they crashed in through a sliding glass door and he was unable to get them to leave, the AP reports. State wildlife managers killed all four bears after the attack Thursday night in Lake City, a southwestern Colorado town of 400 people. The man’s injuries were significant, but he didn’t need to go to a hospital, Colorado Parks & Wildlife said in a statement Saturday. “It’s certainly lucky we didn’t have a fatality because it was close,” Colorado wildlife officer Lucas Martin said in the statement.

The 74-year-old man tried to shoo the adult female bear out with a kitchen chair, but it knocked him into a wall and clawed at him, the wildlife agency said. The bear injured the man’s head, neck, arms, shoulder, abdomen, and calf before he and his wife escaped to a bedroom. A sheriff’s deputy chased the bears out, and medical responders treated the man at his house. His identity wasn’t released. Wildlife managers suspect the bears were accustomed to people because of recent reports of bears in the area raiding homes in search of food.

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They found the four bears near the couple’s house and killed them, standard practice to stop problem bears that associate people with food. “It creates a very complex situation to mitigate,” Martin said. “Unfortunately cub bears that are taught these behaviors by their mother may result in generations of conflict between bears and people.” It was Colorado’s first reported bear attack this year. There were six in 2023. (More Colorado stories.)





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Colorado Task Force One is getting ready for Milton | KRDO

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Colorado Task Force One is getting ready for Milton | KRDO


COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO)- Colorado rescue teams are ready to help out again as Milton grows into a category-four hurricane before hitting Florida’s west coast.

First responders from Colorado were already in the southeastern part of the United States helping in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

West Metro Fire Rescue is sharing its latest update from North Carolina.

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They’re one of several agencies that make up the Colorado Task Force One, along with firefighters from Colorado Springs and Fort Carson.

They say the task force including search dogs found a missing person sheltering in what was left of her home. She was isolated with no contact with her family since the storm.

According to the Colorado Task Force One, the K-9s kept on showing interest in that location. The task force then contacted local law enforcement and that’s how they were able to find the missing woman.

In preparation for Milton to make landfall, four more task forces have been activated, one is from Washington State and three are from California.

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Colorado receives votes in latest AP Top 25 poll following bye week

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Colorado receives votes in latest AP Top 25 poll following bye week


The Colorado Buffaloes football team, led by head coach Deion Sanders, continues to garner national attention, even during their bye week. Despite not playing in Week 6, the Buffaloes received three votes in the latest AP Top 25 poll, reflecting the ongoing belief in their potential this season. Coach Prime’s squad has captivated college football fans with their high-profile performances and bold leadership, maintaining relevance in the rankings conversation.

The Buffaloes’ ability to receive votes in the AP poll during a bye week speaks volumes about the respect they’ve earned from voters. Their exciting offensive play, driven by standout performances from players like Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter, has positioned them as a team to watch. The three votes in the latest poll suggest that voters still see promise in the Buffaloes, despite recent challenges, including a few losses to ranked opponents.

This recognition comes in a year when Coach Prime’s first season at Colorado has drawn significant attention, both for the team’s potential and for the excitement surrounding his coaching style.

Meanwhile, the AP Top 25 saw significant movement, particularly at the top. Texas climbed to No. 1 in the nation, taking over the top spot from Alabama following the Crimson Tide’s shocking loss to unranked Vanderbilt. The Longhorns, despite being off in Week 6, earned 52 first-place votes, surpassing Ohio State, who came in second after a dominant 35-7 victory over Iowa.

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Other notable changes in the poll included Oregon moving up to No. 3, while previously top-ranked teams Missouri and Michigan fell out of the top 20 following their losses. As Colorado prepares for its next game against No. 18 Kansas State, the national spotlight will likely stay focused on them, with Coach Prime continuing to lead the charge and drive the narrative around his team.



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