{"id":16434,"date":"2025-09-22T23:51:43","date_gmt":"2025-09-22T23:51:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/lightning-strike-kills-two-elk-hunters-southeast-of-pagosa-springs-coroner-says\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T03:57:13","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T03:57:13","slug":"lightning-strike-kills-two-elk-hunters-southeast-of-pagosa-springs-coroner-says","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/lightning-strike-kills-two-elk-hunters-southeast-of-pagosa-springs-coroner-says\/","title":{"rendered":"Lightning strike kills two elk hunters southeast of Pagosa Springs, coroner says"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"Ian
Ian Stasko, left, and Andrew Porter are experienced hunters from Salt Lake City, Utah, and Asheville, North Carolina, who went missing on Sept. 11 near the Colorado-New Mexico border while hunting elk in the Rio Grande National Forest. (Courtesy of Bridget Murphy, via The Colorado Sun)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

A lightning strike was the cause of death for two hunters found Thursday near the Rio de Los Pinos Trailhead, according to Conejos County Coroner Richard Martin, following an autopsy performed in El Paso County on Monday.<\/p>\n

Andrew Porter, 25, of North Carolina, and Ian Stasko, 25, of Utah, were reported missing last week by family while elk hunting in rugged terrain southwest of Monte Vista in Game Management Unit 81. Alarm bells went off for family members when Porter failed to check in at a predetermined time on Sept. 11, according to a news release<\/a> by the Conejos County Sheriff\u2019s Office.<\/p>\n

A massive search began Sept. 13 and continued for nearly a week before the bodies were recovered about 2 miles from the Rio de Los Pinos Trailhead on Thursday, according to an updated release <\/a>from the Sheriff\u2019s Office.<\/p>\n

The hunters\u2019 bodies, which had minor burns, were found at the base of a tree, Martin said.<\/p>\n