The person at the center of this case
Teresa Schmidt
Missing Person · Open
24 years waiting · since 2002
Missing Person: Teresa Schmidt
Justice for Teresa Schmidt — the trail went cold in 2002, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
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location
Lead #1Why were only footprints found near Cheesman Overlook on both sides of the ridge—did she cross the ridge multiple times or become disoriented?
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clue
Lead #2The forest fire had significantly altered the physical features of the terrain; could this have caused an experienced hiker to lose her way?
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timeline
Lead #3Why was the search delayed until 2:00 a.m. on September 7, nearly 7 hours after she was reported missing at 7:00 p.m.?
Teresa Schmidt, an experienced 53-year-old hiker, disappeared on September 6, 2002, while hiking alone near Lost Valley Guest Ranch in Golden, Colorado; she left at 3 p.m. and failed to return by 7 p.m. A massive search involving nearly 70 volunteers, dogs, and helicopters covered the area for six days, finding only her footprints near Cheesman Overlook on both sides of a ridge. Despite extensive efforts, her disappearance remains unsolved, and questions persist about whether she became disoriented in terrain altered by recent forest fire damage.
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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.
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evidence
Lead #4Despite extensive six-day search efforts with 70 volunteers, dogs, and helicopters, no other physical evidence or remains were found—where did she go after Cheesman Overlook?
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Official wording
Source Narrative
NamUs case MP25973. Missing person: Teresa Schmidt.
Last known contact: 2002-09-06 in Golden, Jefferson, CO. Circumstances: Teresa Schmidt decided to go hiking on September 6, 2002.
She is an experienced hiker and had visited the area before, but its physical features had been greatly changed by a forest fire and she may not have known her way around. She left Lost Valley Guest Ranch alone, carrying a backpack which contained a jacket and two bottles of water.
Teresa Schmidt was last seen at about 300 p.m. on a trail leading to a rocky overlook east of the ranch.
She was reported missing by her husband at 700 p.m. when she failed to return to the ranch, but search efforts did not begin until 200 a.m.
the next day. Nearly seventy volunteer searchers, tracker dogs, and helicopters scoured the area for Schmidt for six days after she disappeared.
Her husband spent several days searching by motorcycle. Search efforts were hampered by inclement weather and the only thing anyone located was two sets of Schmidt's footprints near Cheesman Overlook, one set on each side of the ridge.
Demographics: 53 years, Female, White / Caucasian. Physical description: 5 ft 5 in, 125 lbs, hair: Blond/Strawberry, eyes: Brown.
Clothing and accessories: Accessories: Black fannypack; Clothing: Stonewash jeans, light colored shirt, turquoise windbreaker. Investigating agency: Jefferson County Sheriff's Office | 02-22973.
Timeline of Events
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2002-09-06
15:00Last sighting
Teresa Schmidt was last seen at approximately 3:00 p.m. on a trail leading to a rocky overlook east of Lost Valley Guest Ranch, carrying a backpack with jacket and two bottles of water.
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2002-09-06
19:00Reported missing
When Teresa failed to return to the ranch by 7:00 p.m., her husband reported her missing.
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2002-09-07
02:00Search begins
Organized search efforts began at 2:00 a.m. on September 7, involving nearly 70 volunteers, tracker dogs, and helicopters over six days.
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2002-09-07
Footprints discovered
Two sets of Teresa's footprints were located near Cheesman Overlook, one on each side of the ridge.
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:September 6, 2002 at 3:00 PM
Last Updated:September 26, 2026
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Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Phone: 3032715195
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Case Information
Incident:September 6, 2002 at 3:00 PM
Last Updated:September 26, 2026
Have Information?
Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Phone: 3032715195
You can remain anonymous