CAÑON CITY, Colorado — Investigators have learned the identities of two men whose bodies were discovered earlier this week in Fremont County. They were first spotted by bicyclists who were riding on County Road 67 (Phantom Canyon Road).
On Tuesday, the victims had been identified as 36-year-old Rodolfo Santillan-Reyes and 25-year-old Joe Roth, according to the Fremont County Coroner.
As of Friday afternoon, the coroner was still attempting to contact the next of kin for one of the victims.
Sheriff Allen Cooper said the cyclists were about 10 miles north into the canyon when they saw blood in the snow and one of the bodies off the side of the road. They had to travel to a location where cell phone service was available to call for help.
"Deputies were dispatched to that location where they discovered not one, but two individuals which appeared to be deceased," Sheriff Cooper said.
Their deaths are considered homicides. Sheriff Cooper said it took investigators several hours to reach and recover the men because of the steep terrain.
The men's bodies were discovered on Bureau of Land Management property. The sheriff contacted the BLM and the FBI is now assisting the sheriff's office with the investigation.
Detectives and agents are actively pursuing leads.
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