Saturday, October 1, 2016

Missing Craig man found deceased

Scott Burke, 43
MESA COUNTY, Colo – Friday afternoon Mesa County deputies responded to a report of person found deceased on BLM land west of Lands End Road.

Once deputies arrived at the remote location, they confirmed the vehicle found with the deceased person was the blue and white Bronco belonging to missing Craig resident Scott Burke.

The Mesa County Coroner’s Office conducted an autopsy Saturday morning and identified the person found as Scott Burke. His cause and manner of death are still under investigation pending toxicology results.

Burke, 43, went missing over the weekend when he didn’t return home Saturday from a camping trip.

The Mesa County Sheriff’s Office along with several other agencies, volunteers and family members searched for three days. The exact location of where Burke was planning to camp was unknown, only a general area of the North Desert or the Bookcliff area west of De Beque.

Burke was found Friday nowhere near the 700 sq mile search area. He was found a few miles west of Lands End Road on BLM land.

The circumstances surrounding his death are still being investigated.