Jerry Mikkelson Identified as Murder Victim Found in Jackson County in 1987

Accident – death – Obituary News : New Breakthrough in Identifying Jerry Mikkelson’s Body Found in Colorado 36 Years Ago

WALDEN, Colo. — After 36 long years, the identity of a young man whose body was discovered along a remote road in northern Colorado has finally been revealed. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) announced on Monday that the murder victim has been identified as Jerry A. Mikkelson, a 24-year-old originally from Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Mikkelson’s body was found on October 18, 1987, along a Forest Service road, approximately 15 miles north of the town of Walden and five miles south of the Wyoming border. Detectives initially theorized that he was killed in Wyoming and his body was subsequently dumped in Jackson County, based on soil samples taken from Mikkelson’s hair.

When his body was discovered, Mikkelson was wearing a vest with the initials L.B.L. written on a tag. This detail, along with the recent exhumation of Mikkelson’s body in June, provided investigators with new leads. During the examination of his remains, detectives found a titanium rod in his right femur. Genetic genealogy and other scientific techniques were then employed to trace the samples back to Mikkelson’s surviving family.

According to Mikkelson’s family, he had the titanium rod as a result of breaking his femur six years prior to his death. This information, along with the DNA samples, helped confirm the victim’s identity.

The sheriff’s office revealed that Mikkelson willingly left his home in South Dakota in August 1983, just before his 20th birthday. He subsequently spent time in Pittsburgh, Olathe (Kansas), Wyoming, and possibly Colorado. Investigators are now hoping that this new information will prompt anyone with relevant knowledge about Mikkelson’s whereabouts during that time to come forward.

Described as 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighing around 160 pounds, Mikkelson had brown wavy/curly hair and brown eyes. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Wyoming Department of Criminal Investigations have been working closely with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office to solve this cold case.

Authorities are urging anyone with information about the case to contact the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office’s tip line at 970-875-7069 or email tips@jacksoncountyco.gov. The collaboration between law enforcement agencies and the use of genetic genealogy have proven to be invaluable tools in solving previously unsolvable cases, bringing justice to victims and closure to their families.

As the investigation continues, investigators hope that the renewed public attention will lead to additional leads and eventually uncover the truth behind Jerry Mikkelson’s tragic death..