ANTONITO, Colo – The Conejos County Sheriff’s Office reports the rescue of Susan Behrends of Excelsior Springs, Mo., Wednesday from a remote area in Colorado that had been inaccessible to searchers for many hours due to weather.

When the weather cleared Wednesday, Sheriff Garth Crowther asked for air assistance to check a spot that had not been searched Monday or Tuesday. Behrends' vehicle was spotted and Sheriff Crowther and the undersheriff made their way to area because there was no landing zone for the aircraft.

The press release says the 65-year-old woman was transported on UTV to a landing zone and was flown by helicopter to a nearby hospital.

 Photos from Conejos County Sheriff's Office Facebook

The sheriff offers thanks to the US Forest Service, Colorado Bureau of Investigation and Flight for Life for the safe finding of Behrends, who had been missing since Nov. 17.

Behrends' daughter, Billie Cooley of Nebraska City, said her mother was traveling to Platoro, Colo., but did not arrive as expected. She posted on Facebook that diagnostics on her Ford Explorer indicated that she had fuel and the SUV was turned on while she was stranded, but the check engine light was on and there was damage to the control board.

Behrends was found in the San Juan Mountains, about 77 miles from her destination.

 

Here is the sheriff's press release

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Date: November 20, 2024 Time: 1330

On the morning of November 18, 2024 the Conejos County Sheriff’s Office received a call of a missing person, Susan Behrends of Missouri. According to the family she was en route to Platoro from Missouri on November 17, 2024. She called family around 1900 hours prior to losing service in the Mogote area, in Conejos County.

After contacting family the party was no longer in contact with her family or friends. The Conejos County Sheriff’s Office along with assistance from the Forest Service and Colorado Bureau of Investigation spent November 18, 19, and 20th looking for this party in the Horca and Platoro area.

Unfortunately, due to weather issues Conejos County Sheriff’s Office could not gain air assistance until the weather cleared on November 20, 2024.

On this date Sheriff Crowther asked air assistance to check a specific spot he could not get to right away. While they were checking that area Flight for Life located what appeared to be a burgundy vehicle and a female party outside of the vehicle waving them down. Sheriff Crowther and Undersheriff Crowther made their way to where the female was due to flight not having a landing zone.

They made contact with the female who was identified as Susan.

Susan was transported via UTV to the landing zone where the helicopter was finally able to land and flew her out to a nearby hospital. The Conejos County Sheriff’s Office would like to give a big thanks to US Forest Service, Colorado Bureau of Investigation, Flight for life and all community member in the area that assisted with the safe finding of Susan.