The Clear Creek County Sheriff’s Office announced on April 22 that an arrest was made in the case of a missing person, Mary Schenck, age 77. The investigation began after family members requested a welfare check at her residence on Blue Bird Drive in Georgetown, Colorado.
The case drew concern when deputies were unable to contact anyone at the home and did not have cause to enter. Family members later accessed the house and reported Schenck missing around 10 a.m. on April 21.
Evidence found at the scene and reports of unusual behavior led detectives to suspect Schenck’s son, Coy Stolpe, age 44, who was believed to be armed and dangerous. Authorities tracked Stolpe to an RV camp in Afton, Wyoming. Multiple law enforcement agencies from Wyoming coordinated efforts and approached Stolpe at his RV late that evening.
Law enforcement took Stolpe into custody around 10 p.m., locating Schenck unharmed inside the RV. Currently, Stolpe faces a charge of Exploitation of an At-Risk Adult, classified as a Class 3 Felony. Additional weapons and drug-related charges may be considered in Wyoming pending further investigation by the Fifth Judicial District Attorney’s Office. The statement notes that “defendants are presumed innocent unless proven otherwise through the judicial process.”
The Clear Creek County Sheriff’s Office expressed appreciation for assistance provided by several agencies including the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, Wyoming Department of Criminal Investigation, Wyoming Highway Patrol, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office (Wyoming), and Afton Police Department during both the search for Mary Schenck and apprehension of Coy Stolpe.
This remains an open investigation.
