Family speaks on deaths of 3 Colorado Springs campers who died trying to go ‘off the grid’

COLORADO (KRDO) -- One woman in Colorado Springs is still trying to make sense of the loss of her two stepsisters and nephew, who were recently found dead in Gunnison County after leaving Colorado Springs to live off the grid last summer.

Gunnison County Coroner Michael Barnes identified the three as 42-year-old Rebecca Vance, 41-year-old Christine Vance, and Rebecca's 14-year-old son.

Though Barnes is still waiting on toxicology reports to come in, he suspects the three died as a result of malnutrition, exposure to the elements, or carbon monoxide poisoning.

Christine and Rebecca's stepsister Trevala Jara said her sisters told her about their plan last summer, saying they wanted to get away from the "influences of the world."

"It's just as easy as they wanted to protect each other, and that they really thought that they could do it," said Jara.

In August 2022, Jara said an emotional goodbye to her sisters and nephew for the first time.

"He was crying and he was excited and scared at the same time. He was only 13 when they left," said Jara. "Becky, Christine, they really thought that they were going to protect their family and save the family from the influences of the world."

Jara said her sisters' choice wasn't motivated by religion or conspiracy theories. She said it was a combination of multiple factors including instability due to the COVID-19 pandemic and shifting politics.

"She was just afraid of the word, the way it was going," said Jara.

However, even as Jara matter-of-factly explains her sister's reasoning to KRDO, it was never a decision she took lightly.

Jara said she begged her sisters to change their minds, but they were set.

"What else are you going to do? You know, with two grown women who have their minds made up," said Jara. "All you can do is try to help them prepare."

Jara said she told her sisters they could stay at a remote property she owns in the mountains, but they declined.

"I asked them, please take our property so you can at least practice instead of going from zero to 180 going off the grid," said Jara.

Christine and Rebecca watched YouTube videos and met up with a survivalist once to figure out how to live on their own, but Jara said they were completely unqualified to live out in the harsh conditions.

July 12, the Gunnison County Sheriff's Office (GCSO) alerted the public that a hiker discovered a heavily decomposed body at Gold Greek Camp in Gunnison County.

When GCSO deputies arrived, they discovered there were three dead bodies in the area, including two in a tent and one right outside.

Barnes said the bodies were visibly and unnaturally thin, indicating the three possibly died from starvation.

He also believes carbon monoxide poisoning could have contributed to their deaths. When Barnes was at the campground, he noticed evidence pointing to the three people boiling tinder for a fire in empty soup cans.

Inside the tent, investigators found empty food packaging and several books on foraging and how to plant vegetables, but investigators saw no equipment for heavy winter conditions like snow boots or snow gear.

"You know, they could have been more prepared and they just weren't," said Jara.

Still, Jara said she wants the world to know her sisters were loved by all.

She said they weren't crazy, they just got in over their heads in a horrible situation.

"They were very loved and they loved strong," said Jara. "You know, I don't know how many people have reached out to me that were friends with them and was telling me how they had touched their lives and everything and I love it. I love that they touched so many people's lives because they did, especially mine."