Recently released autopsy reports shed light on the heartbreaking demise of two sisters and a teenage son who embarked on a journey to live “off the grid” in the Colorado wilderness, ultimately succumbing to hypothermia and malnutrition.
The trio, consisting of Christine Vance, 41, Rebecca Vance, 42, and Rebecca’s 14-year-old son, was identified in July after the discovery of three “partially mummified” bodies at a remote campsite within the Gunnison National Forest.
The autopsy conducted by the Gunnison County Coroner’s office revealed that the 14-year-old, whose identity was withheld due to his age, weighed a mere 40 pounds at the time of his death. This starkly contrasted with the average weight for a boy of his age, which is approximately 112 pounds according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Family members expressed their surprise at the sisters’ decision to forsake modern conveniences, speculating that Rebecca Vance had grown increasingly wary of society in the aftermath of the Covid pandemic.
“It’s hard to wrap your head around why they chose to go,” remarked stepsister Trevala Jara in July. “It’s hard for me.”
According to Jara, Rebecca Vance had confided in her desire to live in the wild. Initially, Christine appeared hesitant to join her sister’s venture, but last summer, she arrived at Jara’s home with their mother’s ashes and their deceased parents’ belongings, entrusting them to Jara for safekeeping.
Jara had urged her stepsisters to take a more gradual approach, suggesting they try living off the grid on her mountain property equipped with a generator. However, Rebecca Vance declined the offer.
None of the family members were known to possess outdoor survival skills. The stepsisters had vaguely informed other family members that they were planning to leave the state but provided little detail regarding their reasons or destination.
“If you think you can go live off the grid and do it by just watching YouTube and the internet, think twice,” advised Jara. “You need to experience it first.”
Gunnison County Coroner Michael Barnes had previously speculated that the cause of death might be linked to exposure to cold weather and malnutrition. It appeared that they had been burning tinder in empty soup cans inside their tent for heat.
Identification of the bodies relied on dental records and fingerprints.
Investigators also uncovered a “lean-to” style shelter, typically constructed from logs and designed to offer protection from the elements, at the campsite.
Desiree McDonald, a friend and former co-worker of Rebecca Vance at the now-defunct electronics chipmaker Atmel Corp., disclosed that she had last communicated with her at the close of 2020 as they were renewing their friendship. McDonald shared that Vance had mentioned her son initially struggled with the transition to homeschooling and hoped for a return to normalcy. McDonald described Vance as a devoted and caring mother, though they had lost touch for several years.
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“I can definitely see Rebecca thinking that it was going to better their lives,” reflected McDonald on her friend’s decision to live in the wilderness. “I now know that they didn’t prepare enough ahead of time. I just wish I knew.”