Friday, JULY 25, 2025 |
Photo – Derek Pettigrew – Courtesy Jackson County Sheriff’s Office
Search efforts, on both sides of the state line, have yielded no signs of a Colorado man who went missing last week.
The Fort Collins resident, 22-year-old Derek Pettigrew, has been missing since Tuesday, July 15th. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office stated that Pettigrew was last seen leaving his Fort Collins home around 9:00 p.m. that evening.
The next morning, Pettigrew’s blue 2015 Subaru station wagon was found along Highway 127, approximately 3.5 miles south of the Wyoming border. The vehicle was unoccupied, and Pettigrew’s cellphone was discovered inside.
Classic Air Medical was quickly dispatched to conduct an aerial search. At the same time, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office investigated nearby buildings. The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation and the Albany County Sheriff’s Office provided drone assistance.
Law enforcement officers and first responders, aided by search-and-rescue dogs, conducted an extensive ground search of the area where Pettigrew’s Subaru was discovered. However, despite the searchers’ best efforts, no trace of Pettigrew has been found aside from his vehicle.
On Monday, July 21st, law enforcement agencies conducted additional search-and-rescue operations using tracking dogs. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office searched a 10-square-mile area, while other agencies covered similarly sized sections. However, no trace of the man was found. As of yesterday afternoon, Pettigrew is still missing.
Authorities say Pettigrew may be experiencing a mental health crisis and is believed to be in possession of a firearm. If you see the missing man, do not approach him. Instead, immediately call 911.
Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts is urged to contact the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office at (970) 723-4242 or call 911.
