Elderly Couple Who Went Missing While On A Hike Found Shot To Death

An elderly New Mexico couple was found shot to death in the woods but investigators say they aren’t searching for any suspects.

Lee and Stella Vigil, who were both in their 70s, were reported missing on Friday night, the Colorado Springs Police & Fire Communications Center tweeted on Friday. The couple had gone out for a hike along the Santa Fe Trail which leads to the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. They were believed to have been around the Edmundson trail head when they vanished.

Investigators asked the public for help locating the couple but the search for the pair took a tragic turn by early Saturday morning when their bodies were discovered, the Colorado Springs Police said in a Monday press release. After locating the couple’s vehicle, they found both “deceased from apparent gunshot wounds." Their bodies were found along the same trail where they went missing.

Violent crime and homicide detectives then took over the investigation, who have determined and announced that they are not looking for any suspects. The Colorado Springs Police noted in their press release that they have “identified all persons involved in this incident.” 

Lee and Stella Vigil Photo: CSPD

“There is no danger to the community and detectives do not anticipate any arrests as a result of this investigation,” they added.

The cause and manner of deaths for both Lee and Stella are expected to be determined by a coroner on Tuesday, the Colorado Springs Gazette reports.

Police had called the couple “at-risk” adults, presumably because of their age.

Hiker Michael Hollenbeck told local outlet KRDO that he believes he had seen the couple on the trail before.

"Up until today I usually feel pretty good," he told the outlet. "You have to be a little careful, sometimes there are some sketchy people."

This story is still developing.