On Tuesday, Colorado officials said they suspended the search for a Florida woman who vanished last month.
Svetlana Ustimenko’s rental vehicle was first spotted at the Deadhorse Trailhead in Grand County on July 31. The car remained there past its scheduled return date of August 10, leading crews to start their search for Ustimenko, 55, the following day, according to WUSA.
“Sadly, the family has shared that Svetlana had been diagnosed with a terminal illness, was struggling as she tried to cope, and was attracted to the Colorado mountains,” the Grand County Sheriff’s Office said.
Searches were conducted on August 12, 13, 18, and 20. There was no sign of Ustimenko, leading investigators to determine she was not in the primary search area, according to the Denver Gazette.
Grand County police said they have not received any leads, leading them to suspend the search pending new information.
The trailhead Ustimenko’s car was found on is commonly used by hikers and bikers. Anyone with information regarding her whereabouts can call the Grand County Sheriff’s Office at 970-725-3311.
According to the Denver Gazette, police do not believe Ustimenko’s disappearance is connected to the disappearance of Melissa Whitsitt, 34, who vanished from Grand County on August 13. Whitsitt failed to show up for work, and detectives learned that an unknown male used her phone to contact multiple people before it was cut off. Whitsitt’s debit card has not been used since she went missing.
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[Featured image: Svetlana Ustimenko/Grand County Sheriff’s Office; TK/Colorado Bureau of Investigation]
