The body of a local man missing since July 2012 was found alongside railroad tracks east of Elko, Nevada, according to media reports.
The remains of Robin Putnam, 25, were discovered last Tuesday by a railroad worker and were positively identified Friday.
Putnam went to school in Telluride, and his parents, who live in Rico, have been tirelessly looking for him.
Putnam was last seen July 8, 2012, disembarking from an Amtrak train in Salt Lake City while on his way to Colorado Springs to visit family. But his remains were found west of that location in a remote area south of Wells, Nevada.
Putnam's debit card and keys were found nearby. His disappearance and death are a mystery.
"He was going from Oakland to Colorado Springs to be with his family," said Elko County undersheriff Clair Morris, in an interview with NBC affiliate KENTV. "We can put him in Salt Lake getting off the Amtrak, and we're not sure how he got back over by Wells."
Morris reported that Putnam was apparently planning to reboard the train because his backpack with his wallet, art supplies and artwork were still onboard.
"It's sad, the kid was 25 years old. Not sure what happened to him at this point," he said.
There was no evidence of foul play at the scene. Morris said investigators from Salt Lake City and Colorado Springs are working on the case.
A Facebook page called "Robin Putnam, Find Home" was established after his disappearance.
In a post August 30 family members recounted a conversation Robin had with a fellow passenger on the train. The passenger described him as a "bright, well spoken, classy young gentleman."
Putnam was also writing a script for an animated film.
"We will get to the bottom of what happened to Robin," another post reads. "The investigation is ongoing."
According to the Facebook page, there will be a memorial service for Robin Putnam on Sept. 18 at 11 a.m. at the top of the gondola in Telluride.
In lieu of flowers, consider making a donation to Robin's favorite charitable organization, Free the Children.
jmimiaga@cortezjournal.com