The person at the center of this case
Ray Burssie Collins
Missing Person · Open
39 years waiting · since 1987
Missing Person: Ray Burssie Collins
Justice for Ray Burssie Collins — the trail went cold in 1987, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
🎯
suspect
Lead #1Why did Collins' companion take out a $25,000 life insurance policy on him shortly before the trip?
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witness
Lead #2What did the bus station staff or other witnesses observe about Collins being dropped off in Colorado Springs?
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vehicle
Lead #3Where is Collins' pickup truck and what forensic evidence might it contain?
Ray Burssie Collins, a 57-year-old mineral collector from Florida, disappeared in July 1987 while on a collecting trip to Colorado with two male friends. One companion returned to Florida on a family emergency, while the other drove Collins' pickup truck back to Florida after claiming he dropped Collins at a Colorado Springs bus station to visit the Grand Canyon. Investigators discovered the companion had taken out a $25,000 life insurance policy on Collins shortly before the trip, raising serious questions about the circumstances of his disappearance.
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More leads to consider
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
⏰
timeline
Lead #4Why did the companion's account change, and what was the actual sequence of events after Collins was allegedly dropped off?
💡
clue
Lead #5Collins wore a distinctive gold ring with a green October birthstone encircled by tiny beads—has this item ever been recovered?
Have information about any of these leads?
Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
NamUs case MP12001. Missing person: Ray Burssie Collins.
Last known contact: 1987-07-31 in Salida, Chaffee, CO. Circumstances: Collins, a resident of Winter Haven FL, was mineral collecting in CO with 2 male friends.
One returned to FL on a family emergency, then a few days later, the other returned driving Collins' pick-up truck. It was later discovered that that "friend" had taken out a $25,000 life insurance policy on Collins.
The "friend" said that Collins had wanted to go to the Grand Canyon, so he dropped him off at a bus station in Colorado Springs. Demographics: 57 years, Male, White / Caucasian.
Physical description: 5 ft 9 in, 150 lbs, hair: Brown, eyes: Blue. Clothing and accessories: Jewelry: Ring; gold with a green October birth stone.
Stone was oval with a Cabochon cut. The stone was encircled with a ring of tiny beads..
Investigating agency: Chaffee County Sheriff's Office | 87-2613.
Timeline of Events
👁️
1987-07-31
Last known contact
Ray Burssie Collins last contacted in Salida, Colorado while mineral collecting with two male friends
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1987-07-31
Disappearance
Collins disappeared after one friend claimed to drop him at a bus station in Colorado Springs to visit the Grand Canyon
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:July 31, 1987
Last Updated:September 26, 2026
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Phone: 7195392596
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Case Information
Incident:July 31, 1987
Last Updated:September 26, 2026
Have Information?
Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Phone: 7195392596
You can remain anonymous