The body of a man previously referred to as “John Doe,” found wrapped in a tarp near Mirror Lake on the Snowy Range summit off Wyoming Highway 130, has been identified as 56-year-old James Bitner from Black Hawk, Colorado.
The Albany County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Bitner’s death is being investigated as a homicide.
The discovery of Bitner’s body over the Fourth of July weekend led to the temporary closure of the popular Snowy Range picnic and fishing site as law enforcement conducted their investigation.
James Eugene Bitner (born 1967) is listed at 380 Sierra Timber Road, Black Hawk, and is affiliated with the Colorado Republican Party. He is registered to vote in Gilpin County. (Retrieved from https://voterrecords.com/voter/2850483/james-bitner.)
The investigation is a joint effort involving multiple agencies, including the Albany County Sheriff’s Office, Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation, Gilpin County Sheriff’s Office, Colorado Bureau of Investigation, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Colorado 1st Judicial District Attorney Investigators’ Office.
Bitner, whose LinkedIn profile indicates he had a professional background in Colorado, was identified through fingerprint analysis. His sudden and tragic death has raised concerns among the local community and authorities, who are working diligently to uncover the circumstances surrounding the case.
The Gilpin County Sheriff’s Office declined making a statement since the investigation is active and ongoing.
Law enforcement remains committed to resolving the case and providing closure to Bitner’s family.
Anyone with information should call the Albany County non-emergency dispatch line at 307-721-2526 and ask to speak to a detective, or the Gilpin County Sheriff’s Office at 303-582-1060.
