Tragic Discovery: Two College Students Found Deceased in Colorado Mountains

Two college students, Kaden Matsuda, 19, and Jackson Donlon, 20, were found dead after an unsuccessful hiking expedition in Colorado. The Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the discovery of their bodies on West Apostle Mountain after they were reported missing for several days.

Matsuda, from Ridgway, Colorado, and Donlon, from Queensbury, New York, were both pursuing their education at Colorado Mountain College’s Leadville campus. They embarked on a hike near Ice Mountain on Friday, October 23.

Unfortunately, their remains were discovered the following Wednesday, after the college reported them missing on Monday. Their bodies were found close to each other, with authorities stating that foul play is not suspected.

“Our heart aches for Kaden and Jackson’s family and friends. We are very proud of our team’s efforts to find them before this weekend’s coming storm,” said Sheriff Andy Rohrich. “Although this is a gut punch, our prayers were answered that we would find Kaden and Jackson, allowing some closure for the family.”

The search operation was extensive, involving 60 search and rescue volunteers from six counties. These rescuers faced challenging terrain and worsening weather conditions as they worked tirelessly to locate the students. A timeline of their fateful journey was constructed:

• Friday, Oct. 23: The students left campus in rainy weather.
• Saturday, Oct. 24: They planned to return if conditions worsened. A snowstorm hit around 1-2 p.m., causing severe road issues.
• Sunday, Oct. 25: This was their planned return if they decided to push for the summit.
• Monday, Oct. 26: College staff reported them missing. Deputies found Matsuda’s car at a trailhead near Winfield, Colorado.
• Tuesday, Oct. 27: Aerial teams spotted their tent near Lake Ann.
• Wednesday, Oct. 28: The two students were found deceased.

The results of autopsies conducted at the Chaffee County Coroner’s Office are pending, as investigations into their deaths continue. The tragedy has struck a somber note for both their families and the community around Colorado Mountain College.