List Series: Rocky Mountain Mysteries

The following is the first installment of a new posting series: Rocky Mountain Mysteries. This list contains unsolved murder or disappearance from each state in the Rocky Mountain region: Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado. Links to more detailed write-ups and tip submissions for each case are provided.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN MYSTERIES: VOLUME ONE.

IDAHO:

The Disappearance and Death of Shawnta Pankey (2018)

source: idahocountyfreepress.com

Shawnta Pankey (25) vanished during the early morning hours of April 15th, 2018. On the morning of her disappearance, surveillance cameras captured Shawnta and her boyfriend, Eddie Mills, making several back-and-forth trips from their apartment to Mills' car while carrying camping gear. The couple left the apartment in Mills' vehicle around 2:15 AM. Mills returned several hours later, without Shawnta.

Shawnta was reported missing the following day, after she did not pick up her daughter from her mother’s house as planned.  When Mills was questioned, he said that he and Shawnta got into an argument while camping at Pine Bar along the Salmon River. Shawnta then decided to talk a walk around 10:00 AM and never returned.

Shawnta remained missing for over a year. Then, on May 5th, 2019, human remains were found near Buffalo Eddy on the Snake River. Days later, it was confirmed that those remains were that of Shawnta Pankey. 

Investigators have never revealed the cause or manner of Shawnta's death. Many people speculate she was murdered. There is a lot of suspicion on Mills - Shawnta's boyfriend and last person known to have seen her before her death. Mills has reportedly passed a polygraph exam, and he has not been charged with anything related to the case. However, speculation about him still remains today. The investigation into Shawnta's death remains unsolved.

If you have any information that could solve Shawnta's case, please submit a tip.

Read the full write-up on Shawnta's case.

MONTANA:

The Disappearance and Death of Kaysera Stops Pretty Places (2019)

source: Independent Record

 Kaysera Stops Pretty Places was found deceased in a backyard in Hardin, Montana on August 29th, 2019. The 18-year-old was last seen by her loved ones five days earlier, on August 24th. An autopsy was unable to determine Kaysera's exact of death. Family members are left without answers about what happened to Kaysera.

According to witnesses, Kaysera was last seen with three other individuals: two young girls, aged 17 and 19, and a 23-year-old man. It's believed that the 23-year-old purchased alcohol for the group. Witnesses in that area reportedly told police that they heard an argument around 3:00 AM involving Kaysera and the three others. 

The argument apparently prompted a nearby homeowner to set off their car alarm, which caused Kaysera and the others to run off in different directions. Kaysera was then last seen running towards the backyard where her body was later found. 

Although Kaysera's manner of death remains undetermined, her family members believe she was murdered. Kaysera's remains were reportedly cremated after the autopsy, so it is impossible for any further examinations of her body to be completed. Her family members stated that she was cremated without their consent. 

Kaysera's loved ones are still hoping to gain answers about her death. There is a monetary reward available for anyone with information that could help solve her case.

If you have any information that could solve Kaysera's case, please submit a tip.

Read the full write-up on Kaysera's case.

WYOMING:

The Disappearance of Shannon McClure (2013)

Source: Charley Project

 Shannon McClure vanished in Sheridan, Wyoming on June 15th, 2013. According to reports, the then-23-year-old woman was dropped off at a local Wal-Mart around 3:00 AM on the morning of her disappearance. She has never been seen or heard from again.

Shannon was reportedly dropped off at that Wal-Mart by her husband and father-in-law. There is no public information about why she was dropped off at such an early-morning hour. There is also very little news reporting about Shannon's disappearance.

Despite the lack of information from the news and police, there are various rumors on social media about what might have happened to Shannon. There is speculation that her husband and in-laws may be involved in her disappearance. There is also speculation that many are afraid to speak out about this information. 

None of this has been confirmed by police or mainstream media, and there is otherwise very little other information available about Shannon's case. She remains missing today.

If you have any information that could lead to Shannon's whereabouts, please contact authorities at (307)-672-7463.

Read the full write-up on Shannon's case.

UTAH:

The Disappearance of Eztli Cortez-Trujillo (2020)

Source: Charley Project

 Eztli Cortez-Trujillo has been missing since April 23rd, 2020. The then-22-year-old vanished shortly after getting into a minor car accident on North Ogden Road in Ogden, Utah. A GrubHub driver passed by the scene and offered to give Eztli a ride after completing a nearby food delivery. Eztli accepted the offer - but when the driver returned, Eztli was gone. The Volkswagen that Eztli was driving remained on the side of the road.

The GrubHub driver reported the abandoned vehicle to police. Police subsequently tried to contact Eztli without any success. They then contacted Eztli's family members and friends to inform them that Eztli's car had been crashed and abandoned. Knowing this was incredibly out-of-character for Eztli, loved ones were immediately worried. Eztli was reported missing a short time later.

Eztli's case has been passed back and forth between Salt Lake City and Weber County investigators. Weber County's investigation revealed that Eztli's phone pinged in Taos, New Mexico after their disappearance. There is reportedly no known connection between Eztli and that area of New Mexico - as it is located over 600 miles from where they were last seen. Reports state that Weber County investigators did not follow up on this lead, and the case was eventually handed back to Salt Lake City investigators. 

There are no other known clues or leads in Eztli's disappearance - which remains unsolved. 

If you have any information that could lead to Eztli's whereabouts, please submit a tip.

Read the full write-up on Eztli's case.

 

COLORADO:

The Murder of Margaret Sweet (2008)

Source: Uncovered

 Margaret Sweet was shot to death in front of her father's house in Colorado Springs, Colorado on Christmas Eve 2008. The 38-year-old woman had been staying with her father while her stepmother was in the hospital recovering from surgery. Margaret and her father were both taking turns visiting the stepmother at the hospital. Her father was at the hospital at the time the shooting took place.

When Margaret's father returned home from the hospital on Christmas morning, he found his daughter's body in the yard. It was clear that Margaret had been killed by gunshot wounds. An investigation into her murder was launched, but unfortunately, the case still remains unsolved today.

There have been several different potential clues in Margaret's case. Some reports say she was in the process of leaving an abusive relationship at the time of her murder. It's also been reported that the gun used to kill Margaret was the same gun that was used during another shooting that happened during 2007. Despite this information, no suspects or persons of interest have ever been publicly announced. 

If you have any information that could solve Margaret's case, please submit a tip.

Read the full write-up on Margaret's case.

DISCLAIMER: The purpose of this post is to spread awareness about these cases. The information provided in this post is information that was found through various sources on the internet. Sources used are provided in the full case write-ups. If any information on this post is inaccurate, please contact the author via email at truecasefiles@gmail.com or through Instagram and the errors can be corrected. Additionally, if you have any information that could improve the accuracy or quality of this post, please contact the author. We want these cases solved!