Richard Martin, the coroner of Conejos County, said preliminary findings indicate that Andrew Porter and Ian Stasko, both 25, were struck by lightning during a hunting trip. Speaking to People on Sept. 22, Martin described their injuries as consistent with “a pretty intense electrical jolt,” noting small burn marks similar to what might appear if a fading match briefly touched the skin.
Full autopsy results confirming the official cause and manner of death are expected to take about eight weeks.
Porter and Stasko were reported missing after traveling to the Rio Grande National Forest in southern Colorado. Nearly a week later, their bodies were found near the Rio de Los Pinos Trailhead, following an extensive search effort. The Conejos County Sheriff’s Office said two unidentified men were recovered from the area around 11 a.m. on Sept. 18, and family members later confirmed the identities.
