SAN LUIS — According to Costilla County Sheriff Danny Sanchez, a tourist was walking near the Stations of the Cross footpath on Saturday afternoon when he spotted the lifeless body of a man under the bridge that crosses Rito Seco Creek at the intersection of Highway 142 and 159 in San Luis. Sanchez says the report came into the Costilla County Sheriff’s Office at 3:50 p.m. 

The man has not yet been identified and is described as a Hispanic male 30 to 40 years of age. Sanchez estimates that “the body must have been there for a few days” but “with the cold weather, the bodies freeze up and stay that way.” He added that a phone was found in the area but did not provide further details.  

“At this point, we think it is an unattended death due – we think – to the weather,” Sanchez said. He added that an investigator with the district attorney’s office came to the scene and also “suspected it was a death due to the elements.”  

The body is with the Costilla County coroner and will be sent to Colorado Springs for identification and perhaps an autopsy. Sanchez later confirmed that identification will be made by the El Paso County coroner.   

The Costilla County Sheriff’s Office is not asking for the public’s assistance in the case at this time but, “if we make an identification with a name, we may ask the public if anyone had any contact with the individual. We’re not making that request right now.”  

Sheriff Sanchez emphasized that” there is no threat to the public and no foul play is anticipated.”