Elise Schmelzer
The Denver Post
JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. — A human skeleton found on Green Mountain on Thursday has been identified as the remains of Eric Pracht, a paramedic who has been missing since 2016.
The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office confirmed the identification of the skeletal remains using dental records, according to a news release from the Lakewood Police Department. A cause of death had not been determined Monday and police continue to investigate.
Pracht’s family thanked people who had supported them and helped look for the missing paramedic in a Facebook post.
“We want to thank everybody for being so good to us throughout this difficult time,” the post states. “We will be having a memorial for him as soon as it is safely possible for everyone to get together.”
Pracht left his Lakewood home at the base of Green Mountain for a walk sometime after midnight on July 23, 2016, and never returned. Pracht had argued with his fiancée earlier in the night after a party where they had both been drinking. Pracht was 25 when he disappeared.
His family continued to search for him for years, offering rewards for any information.
A hiker discovered his bones about 7:30 a.m. Thursday in the 2,400-acre William Frederick Hayden Park. Police responded to the area and also found a gun and some of Pracht’s personal items.
Pracht’s family described him as an upbeat person, who often lifted the spirits of others.
The South Park Ambulance District, where Pracht worked, posted on its website in memory of their former colleague.
“Eric was an outstanding person and a gifted paramedic,” the district said on its website. “He dedicated his life to serving others. He will not be forgotten.”
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