Human Remains Identified as Missing Florida Woman Svetlana Ustimenko
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 14, 2026
HUMAN REMAINS IDENTIFIED AS MISSING FLORIDA WOMAN SVETLANA USTIMENKO
GRAND COUNTY, CO- On July 13, 2026, the Grand County Sheriff’s Office was notified of human remains discovered in the Fraser Experimental Forest off County Road 72, outside the Town of Fraser. The Sheriff’s Office and the Grand County Coroner’s Office responded to the area, conducted an initial investigation, and recovered the remains.
On July 15, 2026, a secondary search operation was conducted by the Grand County Sheriff’s Office, the Grand County Coroner’s Office, and Grand County Search and Rescue (GCSAR), resulting in the discovery of additional remains.
The Grand County Coroner’s Office has positively forensically identified the remains as those of Svetlana Ustimenko and has been in contact with her family.
Background of the Investigation
The search for Ms. Ustimenko, a missing and endangered woman in her mid-fifties from Florida, originally began in August 2023.
Her rental vehicle was initially spotted during the week of July 31, 2023, parked at the Deadhorse Trailhead off County Road 73 in the Arapaho National Forest. After noticing the vehicle had been parked for an extended period without signs of activity, the US Forest Service and Grand County Sheriff’s Office investigated further. They determined the vehicle was overdue to be returned on August 10, 2023. Working with the rental car agency and her family, law enforcement confirmed the vehicle belonged to Ms. Ustimenko.
On August 11, 2023, active search operations commenced around the trailhead, escalating into major search efforts on August 12 and 13. Extensive operations continued throughout August 2023, involving:
• Ground Teams & Technical Rescue: Navigating steep slopes, deadfall, and thick brush both on and off-trail.
• K9 Teams: HRD (Human Remains Detection) cadaver dog teams from Front Range Rescue Dogs, Search and Rescue Dogs of the United States (SARDUS), and Colorado Search and Rescue.
• Mounted & Aerial Units: Sheriff’s Office investigators on horseback and drone operators covering hard-to-reach terrain.
Across total search operations in 2023 and 2026, Grand County Search and Rescue and partner organizations devoted significant resources to the effort:
• Mission Hours: 57.5
• Person Hours: 1,043.5
Throughout the multi-year investigation, the Grand County Sheriff’s Office maintained close contact with Ms. Ustimenko’s family and the Broward County Sheriff’s Office in Florida, which initiated the original missing person case. Her family shared that Ms. Ustimenko had been diagnosed with a terminal illness, was struggling to cope with the diagnosis, and felt a strong pull toward the Colorado mountains.
Sheriff Brett Schroetlin shared, “This case highlights the incredible work and dedication of our professional Search and Rescue volunteers from Grand County and our surrounding entities. While this is a heartbreaking outcome, we hope it brings a degree of closure to her loved ones. The family and I are deeply grateful to these volunteers for their courageous efforts and unwavering dedication.”
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