Michael Rust, 56
Michael Damian Rust was a Colorado mountain biking icon whose bike designs revolutionized the emerging sport decades ago.
The biking pioneer has been missing for seven years now and believed to be the victim of a homicide.
The last anyone has ever seen him was when he was 56, living his dream on a remote mountain plateau.
Bones have been found recently that some people believe might be those of the missing man.
Susan Medina, spokeswoman for the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, said forensic experts are attempting to identify the bones.
According to Saguache County Undersheriff Jim McCluskey, Rust is not the only missing person in the county.
“We don’t know who it is,” McCluskey said.
He said the bones were discovered last week.
Experts will use DNA and dental records in an attempt to identify the bones.
“Our next step is releasing the identity,” McCluskey said.
He declined to give details about whether personal items like a wallet with identification including a driver’s license was found near the bones.
“We’re not going to compromise the investigation by saying too much,” McCluskey said.
The decaying bones were found not far from Rust’s off-the-grid retreat in Saguache County between Highways 17 and 285.
