Overview

• Conejos County Coroner Richard Martin said preliminary findings show Andrew Porter and Ian Stasko, both 25, died from lightning during an elk hunt in the Rio Grande National Forest.
• Searchers found the men on Sept. 18 about two miles from the Rio De Los Pinos trailhead in the South San Juan Wilderness after a multi‑day, multi‑agency operation.
• Investigators reported no visible trauma or initial signs of foul play, and the coroner said the pair were likely hit by current transmitted through the ground rather than a direct strike.
• The friends were last heard from on Sept. 11; deputies found their vehicle with camping gear inside on Sept. 13 as severe storms affected the area.
• Authorities said more than 170 personnel, along with aircraft, dogs and drones, took part in the search, and the official autopsy reports will be released after laboratory work is completed.