DENVER (KDVR) — A missing man who was last seen in late April was found dead in Coal Creek near Superior, according to officials.
Paul Aragon, 34, was reported missing by his mother on May 8, and his truck with his dog inside was found in Broomfield on May 2, but he was last heard from by his family on April 28 or 29. On May 5, he “no-showed” for work and had been living in his truck.
On Thursday, the Office of the Boulder County Coroner announced it had identified Aragon as the individual found in Coal Creek in unincorporated Boulder County near Superior. The agency did not say when he was found or if any foul play is suspected.
Police discovered Aragon’s pickup truck at 3:15 a.m. on May 2 in a construction area off Edgeview Drive near the WoodSpring Suites. The truck’s engine was reportedly still running, its lights were on and Aragon’s dog was inside.
“I didn’t think it was something. Paul is very independent. He is tough. He is strong. He’s probably one of the strongest people I know,” Mercedes Hess told FOX31’s Alliyah Sims during a search effort at the Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge on July 6. “So, I wasn’t initially worried. When they found his truck, panic struck. He would never leave that dog. He loves that dog.”
The Broomfield Police Department shared this image of Paul Aragon, 34, who was reported missing by his family on May 8, 2025. (Courtesy the Broomfield Police Department) The Broomfield Police Department shared this alert for Paul Aragon, 34, who was reported missing by his family on May 8, 2025. (Courtesy the Broomfield Police Department)
Hess told Sims that she had been Aragon’s girlfriend for about five months, and that the couple had been working as peer coaches for Superior Connections, a transitional house out of Colorado Springs.
“He helped a lot of people with their addictions,” Hess said. “He was really there for a lot of people. This has been hard. I can’t imagine how his family feels.”
Police said that when they found Aragon’s truck, they searched the surrounding area on foot and with a drone, but found nothing. Aragon was not staying at the hotel and did not answer his phone when officers tried to reach him.
On May 3, just after midnight, a second officer checked on the vehicle and discovered the dog was still inside. Because of concerns for the dog’s welfare, the animal was taken from the truck and placed at a local shelter. That was also when police notified Aragon’s mother of the dog being located.
Aragon’s phone also reportedly pinged near where the search was held in the Rocky Mountain Flats.
Anthony Sutton is a business strategist and writer with a passion for management, leadership, and entrepreneurship. With years of experience in the corporate world, he shares insights on business growth, strategy, and innovation through management-opleiding.org.
