Mirror Lake victim identified
James Bitner, a 56-year-old Colorado resident, was found “wrapped in a tarp” around the Mirror Lake area. Authorities are investigating the death as a homicide.
The Albany County Sheriff’s Office announced Thursday the victim of an apparent homicide in the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest has been identified as a Colorado resident.
Authorities discovered the body “wrapped in a tarp at the Mirror Lake Recreational Area” on July 4 and began investigating the death as a homicide, given the “suspicious nature of [his] passing.”
“Initially, our office referred to the unidentified individual as ‘John Doe,’” states a news release from the sheriff’s office. “However, after an autopsy was completed, ‘John Doe’ has been identified as James Bitner, 56, out of Blackhawk, Colorado. The manner of death has been determined a homicide.”
On July 4, around 8 p.m., the sheriff’s office was notified that a body had been discovered, according to a news release published around 4:30 p.m. the next day.
“The Sheriff’s Office arrived on scene and confirmed a deceased individual near the Mirror Lake Day Use area,” that July 5 news release states. “There is no immediate threat to the public.”
The sheriff’s office transported the remains to the Larimer County Coroner’s Office in Colorado, which conducted an autopsy a few days later. In an update published July 9, the sheriff’s office did not identify the cause of death. The update noted the autopsy was “diligently conducted” but failed to turn up any “identifiable markings” that could help to identify the victim.
The July 9 news release said detectives would “meticulously analyze John Doe’s fingerprints, DNA, and dental records, comparing them to missing persons reports that align with his description.”
This week’s news release, which names James Bitner, does not specify how authorities uncovered his identity.
“We are working diligently to ensure that all pertinent information is shared with the public in a timely manner,” the most recent release states. “However, as this case is ongoing, our updates will be limited to safeguard the integrity of the investigation. The Albany County Sheriff's Office remains dedicated to resolving this case and providing closure to the affected family.”
The local sheriff’s office notes it is receiving assistance for this investigation from a number of Wyoming and Colorado agencies, including the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation, the Gilpin County (Colorado) Sheriff's Office, the Jefferson County (Colorado) Sheriff’s Office, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and Colorado’s First Judicial District Attorney’s Investigations Unit.
The sheriff’s office is encouraging anyone with information that might assist in the investigation to contact the non-emergency dispatch line at 721-2526 “and request to speak to a detective.”