A woman from Florida went missing while in Grand County this July, and ongoing search efforts by first responders have been unsuccessful. According to the Grand County Sheriff’s Office, the missing woman has been identified as Svetlana Ustimenko, and is in her mid-fifties.

According to a news release from the Grand County Sheriff’s Office, deputies and a United States Forest Service Law Enforcement Officer observed a rental vehicle parked at the Deadhorse Trailhead area on the week of July 30. The trailhead is located off Grand County Road 73 in the Arapaho National Forest, near Fraser. The vehicle was a 2022 white Nissan Sentra.

The news release stated that the car appeared to be parked at this location for an extended period with no signs of recent activity. The Forest Service conducted an additional investigation, learning that the car was supposed to be returned to the rental car company on Aug. 10. After this return deadline, the car remained at the trailhead. Officers worked with the rental car company and Ustimenko’s family to learn her identity. Officers designated her as missing and endangered.

On the evening of Aug. 11, officers began searching the area where the car was left. They continued subsequent searches on Aug. 12-13. The extensive search on Aug. 13 was completed with the assistance of Grand County Search and Rescue, Front Range Rescue Dogs, Search and Rescue Dogs of the United States, and Colorado Search and Rescue.

“Despite the use of ground rescuers, multiple dog teams, and aerial assets (drones) over the past few days, we have been unsuccessful in locating Svetlana Ustimenko,” the news release from the sheriff’s office stated. “… our team is hoping to speak with anyone who may have seen Svetlana, talked to her, or possibly given her a ride to a different area.”   

The Deadhorse Trailhead area is commonly used by hikers, mountain bikers and other recreators, who may have interacted with the missing woman. The search and investigation for Ustimenko is ongoing. If anyone has information that could help the search, they should call the non-emergency phone number for the sheriff’s Dispatch at 970-725-3311.