According to Montrose County Sheriff Gene Lillard, the college student was reported missing on October 28, 2024.
19-year-old Dallas Roberts was missing for close to a week inside the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park in Colorado before he was found dead.
Roberts, whose cause and manner of death haven’t been released, was a resident of Montrose, situated roughly 12 miles southwest of the park and approximately 65 miles west of Gunnison, Colorado.
On October 30, the Montrose County Sherriff’s Office shared on their Facebook page a missing person’s report about Roberts. They wrote that he was last seen on October 28 in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park area.
The post also described him as, “approximately 5’11”, 130lbs with brown hair and brown eyes.” The police urged anyone with information on his whereabouts to contact them.
While searching for him, the National Park Service informed the police that Roberts had sped through the park entrance in a truck. Sheriff Gene Lillard of Montrose County reported that the vehicle was eventually found approximately 150 feet down a steep hillside. It was surrounded by thick brush near a road leading to the base of Black Canyon.
Curecanti Creek Trail at the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park in Gunnison, Colorado, on July 29, 2020 | Source: Getty Images
A cadaver dog was deployed by the Montrose and Mesa County Sheriff’s Offices. Several days later, National Park Service officials uncovered a sweater about half a mile from the crash site, which was later identified by Roberts’ family as his.
Drones were deployed along the canyon’s south rim to search below steep drops. Ultimately, the drones located Roberts’ body about 200 feet down a ledge among sagebrush on the granite cliffside.
According to the sheriff, who referred to the incident as “an absolute tragedy,” rescuers then used ropes and pulleys to retrieve his body from the canyon.
Covering 31,000 acres, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is known for its dramatic, remote landscape. The site is where the Gunnison River has sculpted a steep, rocky gorge over millions of years.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park in Gunnison, Colorado, on July 29, 2020 | Source: Getty Images
Roberts’ family has spoken out, expressing their heartfelt gratitude to the Montrose Sheriff’s Department, the Search and Rescue Posse, Black Canyon Forest Service and Rangers, and Montrose High School staff.
The family thanked them for their unwavering support and dedication during this challenging time. They also thanked the community for its kindness and compassion.
The family described Roberts as a compassionate individual, whose kind nature touched the lives of everyone around him. “His faith, devotion to family, and dedication to his goals will inspire his loved ones to be the best, most authentic, and kindest versions of themselves,” penned the family.
Roberts, who was born on March 25, 2005, in Greeley Colorado, loved music and craftsmanship, which he perfected over time. He would play bass with his brother, Preston Roberts, and work in the shop with his dad, Elliott Roberts, who is married to Deanna Roberts.
He worked with his uncle Dwight to build his guitar and loved jamming with a man the family referred to as “Papa Russ.” He will be missed by his mom, Lori Roberts as well as his loving extended family.
Roberts was a well-rounded individual who attended schools in Greeley, where he was actively involved in soccer, football, track and field, NJROTC, and bull riding. After moving to Montrose in November 2022, he continued to pursue his passion for sports, playing football and lacrosse.
The family shared that Roberts, who had a caring spirit, was looking forward to being a teacher as he felt a strong calling to work with children. He graduated from Montrose High School in 2023. Later, he enrolled at Colorado Mesa University to study Early Childhood Education, eager to achieve his dreams of making a difference by nurturing young minds.
Roberts, who was fascinated by angels and constantly sought peace, answers, and understanding through the word of God, has left behind a family that loved and cherished him deeply.
They mourn the loss of a family member, remembering him as the incredible young man he was. He will be laid to rest on November 9 with his grandfather David in a private family service at Linn Grove Cemetery in Greeley, Colorado.
