Mirror Lake John Doe Identified

The identify of the Mirror Lake John Doe discovered on July 4 has been identified 56-year-old James Bitner of Blackhawk, Colorado, according to a July 25 press release from the Albany County Sheriff’s Office.

As was previously reported, the Snowy Range between Saratoga, Wyoming and Laramie, Wyoming became the scene of an active investigation over the July 4 weekend. The Albany County Sheriff’s Office received a report around 8:00 p.m. on July 4 of a dead body in the vicinity of Mirror Lake. It was later announced the body had been found wrapped in a tarp. Upon arriving at the scene, the Albany County Sheriff’s Office began investigation with the aid of the Wyoming Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Crime Scene Unit.

The discovery of the body prompted the closure of the Mirror Lake Day Use Area through July 5, opening up to the public on July 6. On July 9, it was announced in a subsequent press release the remains had been transferred to the Larimer County Coroner’s Office.

Due to the manner of death, the Albany County Sheriff’s Office is still investigating Bitner’s case as a homicide. The investigation now include the Gilpin County Sheriff’s Office, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and the Colorado 1st Judicial District Attorney Investigator’s Office.

Anyone with information on Bitner are asked to call the Albany County Sheriff’s Office non-emergency dispatch line at 307-721-2526 and ask to speak to a detective.