Colorado Found a Way Forward on Cold Cases — Wyoming Should Pay Attention

The original story by Jess Oaks for Torrington Telegram.

Wyoming has a problem we don’t talk about much. Across the state, dozens of missing-persons cases and cold cases are still unresolved — some stretching back decades. From Cheyenne to Casper to Rock Springs, families are still waiting for answers. Communities are stuck with silence instead of closure.

Just next door, Colorado has shown there’s another way. And it’s one Wyoming should seriously consider copying.

Earlier this year, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) opened its doors in Arvada for a missing-persons community event. It wasn’t flashy or complicated — but it worked. Families brought updated photos, medical records and DNA samples. Investigators walked away with new tools. And some cases that had gone cold for years finally started moving again.

Colorado is juggling about 1,200 active missing-person cases, yet these open houses have already led to real identifications. The lesson is simple: when traditional investigations stall, community engagement can restart them.

Wyoming faces many of the same hurdles as Colorado — and a few extra. Our state is huge, our population is small, and many communities are isolated. The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation does maintain a cold-case database, but plenty of cases still lack the attention, resources and public visibility needed to generate leads.

Some disappearances date back to the 1970s. Others, like the 2010 disappearance of Seth Uptain from Casper, faded from the spotlight far too quickly. Without deliberate outreach, these cases quietly slip out of public memory — even though the families never stop searching.

The science backs it up. Studies show that public and social-media engagement directly increases the chances of locating missing people. When families submit DNA samples and updated photos during organized events, investigators can upload that data into national systems like CODIS and NamUs.

Even better, when close relatives provide DNA, law enforcement can build genetic profiles that stay useful for decades. That’s especially powerful for older Wyoming cases where forensic technology simply didn’t exist when the person vanished.

And here’s the key part: it’s cheap. Compared to traditional investigations, community events cost very little — but the payoff can be enormous.

Wyoming law enforcement doesn’t have unlimited manpower. With 23 counties and small agencies spread thin, cold cases often lose momentum. Community events flip that equation. Families become partners in the investigation. Locals contribute long-held knowledge. Tips come in from people who know the terrain and history better than any outside investigator.

Wyoming actually has some built-in advantages. Our communities are tight-knit. People remember faces, vehicles, places. Tourists pass through our towns and national parks by the millions every year — and some of them may hold missing pieces of the puzzle.

Modern forensic tools make this moment especially important. The Wyoming State Crime Laboratory has advanced capabilities, but technology alone can’t solve cases without biological samples to analyze. Community DNA-collection events fill that gap.

The path forward isn’t complicated:

• The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation should partner with county sheriffs to host missing-persons open houses statewide;
• Cities like Cheyenne, Casper, Laramie and Gillette should host regional events;
• Rural counties deserve targeted outreach, too;
• The Wyoming Missing Persons Database should tie directly into these events, with clear photos and case summaries;
• Social-media campaigns should actively push cases back into public view.

Funding doesn’t need to be massive. These events require space, basic advertising and trained personnel — all manageable within existing budgets with minor adjustments. The return on investment isn’t measured in dollars anyway. It’s measured in answers.

Beyond logistics, Wyoming needs a cultural reset. Families shouldn’t be treated as bystanders — they should be seen as essential investigative partners. Trauma-informed training, clear communication and consistent updates can rebuild trust and participation.

Colorado’s success didn’t happen by accident. It was driven by leadership and commitment. Wyoming needs its own champions — people inside law enforcement whose sole focus is keeping missing-persons cases alive across administrations and jurisdictions.

Names like Rocky Najera, missing since 1985, still haunt Wyoming’s records. So do many others. Each case represents a family living in limbo.

Colorado proved that progress is possible — even with limited resources. Wyoming has the tools, the technology and the community strength to do the same.

What’s missing now isn’t capability. It’s the decision to act.

The longer Wyoming waits, the colder these cases become. The time to follow Colorado’s lead isn’t someday. It’s now.