FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 13, 2023
SEARCH FOR MISSING WOMAN FROM FLORIDA
GRAND COUNTY, CO- During the week of July 30, 2023, the Grand County Sheriff’s Office and a United States Forest Service Law Enforcement Officer observed a rental vehicle parked at the Deadhorse Trailhead area off of Grand County Road 73, near the Town of Fraser, in the Arapaho National Forest.
This vehicle appeared to be parked at this location for an extended period of time with no signs of recent activity. Through additional investigation by the Forest Service, it was determined that this vehicle was scheduled to be returned to the rental car company on August 10, 2023. After the August 10 return deadline had not been met, the vehicle was still located at the trailhead. Working with the rental car company and the woman’s family, officers were able to then determine that the vehicle was related to a missing endangered female in her mid-fifties out of Florida named Svetlana Ustimenko.
On the evening of August 11, officers began searching the area around where the rental car was located which led to subsequent searches on August 12 and 13. An extensive search was completed on August 13 with the assistance of Grand County Search and Rescue along with Front Range Rescue Dogs, Search and Rescue Dogs of the United States (SARDUS), and Colorado Search and Rescue. Despite the use of ground rescuers, multiple dog teams, and aerial assets (drones) over the past few days, we have been unsuccessful in locating Svetlana Ustimenko.
The Deadhorse Trailhead area is commonly used by hikers, mountain bikers and other recreational enthusiasts and our team is hoping to speak with anyone who may have seen Svetlana, talked to her, or possibly given her a ride to a different area. The search and investigation for this missing woman is ongoing. If you have seen Svetlana Ustimenko please call the non-emergency phone number for Dispatch at 970-725-3311.
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