RED-EYE NEWS

Local Kid Found Dead After Six-Month Disappearance; Questions Remain. By Henry P. Harker - September 28, 1982 Alpine Creek, Colorado - Nearly one year after a local kid was reported missing, authorities have released limited information about the circumstances surrounding his death, leaving the community with more questions than answers. Jack Forrester, 9, disappeared on March 18, 1974, and was found deceased on April 4, 1977. The official cause of death has been listed as "head trauma due to accidental fall," according to the police department's September 20 statement. According to police reports, Forrester was last seen by his friend Kathrine "Kat" Walters on the night of his disappearance. In an exclusive interview with this publication, Walters described her friend as someone whose "smile always brightened any room she walked into." "I don't know where he could have gone, I don't know who could have done something to someone like him," Walters stated. She also mentioned feeling uneasy that night, saying she "thought someone might be watching us" but found it difficult to articulate her concerns at the time. Forrester's parents and friends described him as mentally stable with strong relationships, eliminating the possibility that he had run away voluntarily. The disappearance occurred during an unusual period of activity in the area. Between November 1980 and September 1974, authorities reported six disappearances, including Smith's. The other five other victims all children from ages ten to just as young as four years old, their cases are still unsolved to this day. A nearby campsite and hotel had been evacuated and shut down just two weeks before Jack's disappearance due to the ongoing investigation. Despite heavy police presence in the area, no immediate leads were discovered. The coroner's report indicates Smith died approximately three days before his body was discovered, meaning he had been not only alive but missing for nearly six months. The autopsy report has been classified, and authorities have released minimal information about the investigation. FBI Senior Executive Leland Anderson confirmed that several individuals mentioned in related case files have connections to either the incidents or the people involved. These files have not been made available to the public. The lack of transparency has frustrated many in the community who are seeking closure. Local residents have expressed concern about the limited information released and the classified nature of key documents. The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information about the case is encouraged to contact the Alpine Creek Police Department.