Disappearance of Joe Keller
| Joseph Keller | |
|---|---|
| Born |
July 24, 1996 Cleveland, Tennessee, United States |
| Disappeared |
July 23, 2015 (aged 18) Conejos County, Colorado, United States |
| Residence | Cleveland, Tennessee |
| Education | Bradley Central High School |
Joe Keller (born July 24, 1996) was an American man from Cleveland, Tennessee who disappeared on July 23, 2015 while on a cross-country run in the Rio Grande National Forest in Conejos County, Colorado.
Background
Joe Keller was born to Neal and Zoe Keller on July 24, 1996.[1] He attended Bradley Central High School, where he participated in track and swimming. He graduated in 2013.[2] He was attending Cleveland State Community College at the time of his disappearance.[1]
Disappearance and search
On July 23, 2015, at approximately 4:30 PM Mountain Time, Keller and his friend Collin Gwaltney took off on a cross county run at the Rainbow Trout Ranch in the Rio Grande National Forest that was to last approximately one hour.[3] Keller, Gwaltney, and a small group had arrived in Colorado the previous day as part of a 15-day trip.[4] After about a quarter mile, the two split to run on different paths, as Gwaltney had a slightly faster pace than Keller.[5] The different routes would have allowed the two to finish at about the same time.[5] When Gwaltney returned to the specified meeting place, he waited for hours, but Keller did not return.[6] Keller's cell phone had been left in his vehicle.[1]
Police began to search the area using helicopters, drones, dogs, and infrared equipment, but found no sign of Keller.[5] Keller's parents arrived the day after his disappearance.[7] Authorities from Cleveland and Bradley County later arrived to assist the search.[8] Several weeks later the local authorities chose to suspend the search.[9]
In early January 2016, human remains were found in the Rio Grande National Forest about 100 miles from where Keller disappeared. They were sent to the El Paso County lab for identification, which has yet to be determined.[10]
Reaction
People from Bradley County and the area where Keller disappeared showed much support for the case. Signs with Keller's information were posted throughout the Cleveland and Conejos County areas. A community organization called "Find Joe Keller," was created by his parents, first with a Facebook page, and later a website.[3] His parents also offered a $50,000 reward for information about his disappearance.[5]
See also
References
- 1 2 3 Graaf, Mia De (August 20, 2015). "What happened to Joe? Family of boy, 19, who went missing after going on a run offer $50,000 reward as cops admit they are stumped". Daily Mail.
- ↑ Eubank, Tony (July 27, 2015). "Cleveland teen missing in Colorado". Cleveland Daily Banner (Cleveland, Tennessee).
- 1 2 Glover, Greg (September 10, 2015). "Parents of missing Cleveland teen speak". WRCB-TV (Chattanooga, Tennessee).
- ↑ Chheda, Manthan (August 21, 2015). "Joe Keller: Teen's Strange Disappearance Leaves Investigators Baffled". HNGN.
- 1 2 3 4 Trost, Rachael (August 19, 2015). "Weeks After Joe Keller Vanished On Run, No Answers". NBC News.
- ↑ Chilson, Morgan (August 21, 2015). "Joe Keller, Tennessee Teen, Has Officials Baffled After Disappearance". NewsMax.
- ↑ Babcock, Louis (August 21, 2015). "Joe Keller: Teens Disappearance Baffles Police And Family, What Do You Think Happened?". Inquisitr.
- ↑ Eubank, Tony (August 19, 2015). "Colorado authorities give updates on continuing Keller investigation". Cleveland Daily Banner.
- ↑ Paul, Jesse (August 4, 2015). "Southern Colorado authorities indefinitely suspend search for Tennessee teen". The Denver Post (Denver, Colorado).
- ↑ Edwards, Lynda (January 25, 2016). "Bones found in Colorado could be Joe Keller's, but concerned citizens getting few answers about case". Chattanooga Times Free Press (Chattanooga, Tennessee).