On Thursday, December 19, 2024, at approximately 6:56 pm, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Regional Communications Center received a call for service at a residence in the 1800 block of Pima Drive in the Cimarron Hills area of unincorporated El Paso County.
El Paso County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the residence and began an investigation. While on scene, deputies observed large quantities of blood in multiple locations throughout the residence.
As a result of the call for service on December 19, 2024, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office issued a “Be on the Lookout” (BOLO) for two missing adult males, 46-year-old John Rankin Morris and 37-year-old Stephen Walker.
On Monday, December 23rd, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office requested the public's assistance in locating a vehicle tied to the missing person(s) case: a black 2013 Audi A4 with Colorado license plate MYZFYT.
On Tuesday, December 24th, at approximately 2:40 pm, a “check the welfare” call came into the Park County Sheriff’s Office 911 Communication Center. Park County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a residence in the 1500 block of Campfire Road (near Hartsel, Colorado) in unincorporated Park County.
During their response, Park County Sheriff’s Office deputies located a vehicle approximately ½ mile from the residence at a trailhead. The vehicle matched the BOLO out of El Paso County related to a missing person(s) case from December 19, 2024.
Law enforcement officials in Park County contacted the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Investigations Unit, which responded to the vehicle location in Park County.
Upon their arrival, it was discovered the known occupant of the residence in Park County had indirect ties to the (December 19) missing person(s) case in El Paso County.
Deputies from the Park County Sheriff’s Office patrol unit searched the residence and discovered a deceased adult male at the scene. Because of the nature of the crime (possible homicide) and the pending investigation's scope, the Park County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and El Paso County Sheriff’s Office.
The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a blue 1994 Ford F-150 pickup truck with a distinct “HUNTER” sticker on the left fender. The pick-up truck has a Colorado license plate: TQQ039.
This vehicle could be in Colorado or possibly en route to Mississippi.
Additionally, because of the incident on December 19, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office is looking for the following individuals:
Stephen Walker, 37, is described as an adult male, 5’11”, 160 lbs., with tan skin, black hair, brown eyes, and tattoos on his right arm. Mr. Walker is missing under suspicious circumstances in the December 19, 2024, El Paso County incident.
Johnny Rankin Morris, 46, is described as an adult male, 5’9”, 150 lbs., Caucasian, with short-cut brown and grey hair, blue eyes, and a tattoo on his right ear. Morris is a person of interest in the December 19, 2024, El Paso County incident.
Hailey Diane Cole, 43, is described as an adult female, 5’5”, 145 lbs., Caucasian, brown (medium length), and blue eyes. Cole is a person of interest in the December 19, 2024, El Paso County incident.
Both Morris and Cole are considered armed and dangerous. If seen, members of the community should contact 9-1-1.
This is an active ongoing investigation. In partnership with the Colorado Bureau of Investigations and the Park County Sheriff’s Office, the El Paso County Sheriff's Office will release additional details to the public as they become available.
The identification of the deceased (Park County) individual will come from the El Paso County Coroner’s Office, the agency conducting the autopsy.
Members of the public who may have information related to the Park County or El Paso County investigations or who may have seen the missing F-150 pickup truck are asked to call the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Regional Communications Center non-emergent line at 719-390-5555.
