Creede man dies in Willow Creek

MINERAL COUNTY — Creede resident James Filipy, 51, was found dead in Willow Creek about half a mile south of Creede on Wednesday afternoon.

The retired Marine Corps Recruiting staffer had been reported missing the day before by his girlfriend, according to the Mineral County Sheriff’s Office.

No foul play was indicated, and the cause of death is pending an autopsy by the El Paso County Coroner’s Office.

Filipy’s girlfriend contacted the Mineral County Sheriff’s Office on the afternoon of May 16 after being unable to reach him on his cell phone. In addition he did not show up for work on Wednesday morning, May 17. He had last been seen around 2 a.m. on Tuesday, May 16, at TommyKnockers Bar.

After a search of Filipy’s residence showed no evidence of flight, Mineral County Search and Rescue was dispatched at 10:38 a.m. on Wednesday, May 17. The crews searched a nearby hiking trail called the Up and Over since Tuesday was Filipy’s day off work and he was a known hiker. Search and Rescue teams were also dispatched to search Willow Creek because of its proximity to the bar where Filipy was last seen.

At 12:45 p.m. on Wednesday Search and Rescue volunteers found a body in Willow Creek. Mineral County Coroner Charles Downing pronounced the individual deceased at 1:15 p.m. and confirmed Filipy’s identity after his body was pulled from the water at 1:33 p.m.

His family has been notified.