The body of a man found wrapped in a tarp and left at the Mirror Lake Recreation Area in Albany County, Wyoming, in early July has been identified as a 56-year-old Colorado man whose death is being investigated as a homicide.
The former “John Doe” who was found with no identification has been identified as James Bitner of Blackhawk, Colorado.
It’s not clear how the man was killed, and authorities remain tight-lipped about the investigation.
Albany County Sheriff Aaron Appelhans declined to provide any additional details about the investigation or cause of death Thursday, only to say that it was a homicide and that Bitner was identified by his fingerprints.
Albany County Coroner Sally King also told Cowboy State Daily that her office is not releasing any additional information at this time.
The multi-agency investigation involves a collaborative effort between both the Albany Sheriff’s Office and Wyoming state police, as well as several agencies in Colorado, including the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and the Colorado 1st Judicial District Attorney Investigator’s Office.
The discovery of Bitner’s body over the Fourth of July weekend shut down the popular Snow Range picnic and fishing site near the base of Medicine Bow Peak for two days as law enforcement investigated the scene.
The sheriff’s office asks anyone with information regarding Bitner to call 307-721-2526 and ask to speak to a detective.
Jen Kocher can be reached at jen@cowboystatedaily.com.
