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
🔍
evidence
Lead #1Two sets of footprints were discovered near Cheesman Overlook, one on each side of the ridge—what do these tracks reveal about her route and decision-making?
📍
location
Lead #2How did the forest fire's changes to the terrain affect navigation for an experienced hiker, and could she have become disoriented?
💡
clue
Lead #3Why was the search delayed until 2:00 AM when she was reported missing at 7:00 PM—could earlier action have made a difference?
Teresa Schmidt, a 53-year-old experienced hiker, disappeared on September 6, 2002, while hiking alone on a trail near Lost Valley Guest Ranch in Golden, Colorado. The area had been significantly altered by a recent forest fire, which may have disoriented her despite her hiking experience. Despite an extensive six-day search involving nearly seventy volunteers, tracker dogs, and helicopters, only her footprints were found near Cheesman Overlook, and her fate remains unknown.
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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
👁️
2002-09-06
15:00Last Sighting
Teresa Schmidt was last seen at approximately 3:00 PM on a trail leading to a rocky overlook east of Lost Valley Guest Ranch, carrying a backpack with jacket and two bottles of water.
👤
2002-09-06
19:00Reported Missing
When Schmidt failed to return to the ranch by evening, her husband reported her missing at 7:00 PM.
🕵️
2002-09-07
02:00Search Begins
Organized search efforts commenced at 2:00 AM with nearly seventy volunteers, tracker dogs, and helicopters searching the area for six days.
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:September 6, 2002 at 3:00 PM
Last Updated:July 30, 2026
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Phone: 3032715195
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Case Information
Incident:September 6, 2002 at 3:00 PM
Last Updated:July 30, 2026
Have Information?
Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Phone: 3032715195
You can remain anonymous