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Coroner ID’s missing hikers as father, daughter

SALIDA (AP) – Authorities have confirmed that two bodies found on a southern Colorado mountain were a man and his daughter who had been reported missing.

The Chaffee County coroner said Monday that 53-year-old Robert Michael Von Gortler and his 20-year-old daughter Makana died of blunt trauma to their heads and necks.

Coroner Randy Amettis ruled the deaths were accidental. He says the injuries could have been caused by a fall but that remains under investigation.



He says their was no indication either was hit by lightning.

Amettis says the pair died June 22, the day they began their hike up the 14,067-foot-high mountain.



Their bodies were recovered Saturday after a five-day search covering 800 square miles.


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