CONEJOS COUNTY — Conejos County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) with assistance from multiple agencies are in the fifth day of an extensive search for a man reported missing.

On April 16, the Conejos County Sheriff's Office was notified of a missing person believed to be scouting the area for the upcoming hunting season. The individual has been identified as Rodney Guilinger, a resident of Pueblo, Colorado.

Initial reports to CCSO indicated that Mr. Guilinger was somewhere in the expansive area stretching from Conejos County to the New Mexico state line. On April 17, 2025, the search area was narrowed, and after several hours of ground efforts, search teams located Mr. Guilinger’s vehicle on U.S. Forest Road 380 near Elwood Pass. The vehicle was found stuck in a snowbank, and it appeared the driver had left the vehicle on foot.

A search of the immediate vicinity was conducted, but Mr. Guilinger was not located. The search area was subsequently expanded. Despite daily search efforts, Mr. Guilinger has not yet been found. Unfortunately, ongoing adverse weather conditions have hampered search operations, preventing the use of air support and search dogs.

Nonetheless, search teams continue to operate in the area daily, and the Sheriff's Office remains committed to locating Mr. Guilinger. Anyone with information is urged to call 911 or contact the Conejos County Sheriff’s Office immediately at 719-376-2196. The sheriff can also be reached via email at  garth.crowther@co.conejos.co.us.

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has also issued a “Senior Alert” in the case, describing Rodney Alan Gullinger as white, 64 years old, and 5’10”, weighing 190 pounds. He has brown hair and green eyes and was last seen wearing khaki pants, a green flannel shirt, a camo hat and tennis shoes.

The Senior Alert further states that Gullinger has cognitive impairment and needs medication.

The Conejos County Sheriff's Office further urges anyone exploring the backcountry to take the following critical safety precautions:

1. Always inform someone of your exact plans — where you are going and when you expect to return.
2. If stranded in your vehicle, stay with it.
3. If you must leave the vehicle, stay on the road to increase the likelihood of being found.

Sheriff Crowther would like to thank U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement. Rio Grande Sheriff’s Office, Mineral County Search and Rescue, Alamosa County Sheriff’s Office, Costilla County Sheriff’s Office and Colorado Bureau of investigation for their assistance.