Vance family tragedy: Boy, 14, found next to mummified mother and aunt weighed just 40lbs
OHIO CITY, COLORADO: Autopsy reports in the devastating death of three Colorado family members in Ohio City revealed that a 14-year-old boy weighed only 40 pounds when his body was found alongside his mother and aunt.
The bodies of Christine Vance, 41, Rebecca Vance, 42, and Rebecca’s 14-year-old son were discovered in July 2023 and were found severely decomposed.
What led to the Vance family tragedy?
As per the autopsy reports by the Gunnison County Coroner's office, the three family members who suffered from malnutrition and hypothermia starved to death, reported Daily Mail.
The trio who informed their family members about their plan to live off the grid in the wilderness were reported missing in October 2022.
In July 2023, their bodies were discovered near Gold Creek Campground. According to a previous statement by Gunnison County Undersheriff Joshe Ashe, the bodies were "heavily decomposed."
How did the Vance family survive till their disappearance?
Michael Barnes, the Gunnison County coroner said the trio survived on canned food and used a tent for shelter while they lived "off the grid," reported The New York Times.
The young boy, whose identity has not been released, was also found with a rosary he received from his stepsister Trevala Jara.
She gave the rosary to the group before they were reported missing.
"I do not wish this on anybody at all. I can’t wait to get to the point where I’m happy and all I can think of is the memories," said Jara.
Why did the Vance family choose to live off the land?
Jara was one of numerous family members who learned about the group’s plan to “live off the land,” according to the Times.
The group's intention to leave behind city life stemmed from Rebecca's concern about the political climate in the United States and the state of the world after the Covid-19 pandemic.
Initially, Christine had not planned to join Rebecca and her son, but tagged along with them in the end "because she thought that if she was with them, they had a better chance of surviving," said Jara.
"We tried to stop them. But they wouldn’t listen. Their minds were made up," Jara continued.
The group's camp was found by a hiker in July. Gunnison County Sheriff Adam Murdie previously stated that one of the bodies was discovered outside the camp while two other bodies were found inside a small tent.
"They weren’t crazy. Becky wasn’t crazy. She believed she was doing what she needed to do to save her son," said Jara.