Family vanished in the Rocky Mountains — 15 years later found in an OLD CABIN with a TERRIBLE SECRET | HO

DENVER, COLORADO — On a hot July morning in 1994, the Davidson family left their quiet suburban home for a routine hiking trip in the Colorado Rockies. Mark Davidson, his wife Linda, and their children Sarah (12) and Tommy (10) were experienced hikers, well-prepared and excited for four days of camping near Blue Ridge Lake. They never returned. For fifteen years, their disappearance haunted friends, family, and investigators — until a chance discovery in a remote, decaying cabin revealed a story more disturbing than anyone could have imagined.

The Disappearance

The Davidsons’ preparations for their summer adventure were meticulous. Mark, an engineer, had filled up their red Chevrolet Suburban the night before. Linda, a teacher and lifelong hiker, packed food, checked gear, and left a note for her sister Debbie with their route and return date (July 18th), asking her to feed the cat and water the plants if they were delayed.

The family’s last confirmed sighting was at a gas station outside Denver at 7:23 a.m. on July 14th. The cashier remembered the children buying candy and soda. By 9:00 a.m., their Suburban was parked at the Blue Ridge Lake trailhead, as observed by gamekeeper Jim Walker, who saw the vehicle but not the hikers themselves.

The weather was ideal, and the Davidsons were expected home by July 18th. When they failed to return, Debbie called emergency services. The sheriff’s office launched a search the next morning. The Suburban was found locked and undisturbed at the trailhead, with extra jackets and a thermos of coffee inside.

The Search and Investigation

A massive search operation began, involving 30 volunteers, six professional rescuers, and two search dogs. Teams combed trails, camping sites, lakes, and streams within a 15-kilometer radius. No trace of the family, their camp, or personal belongings was found. The dogs failed to pick up a scent, and the investigation expanded to neighboring counties and states. The Davidsons’ photos appeared in newspapers and on television; relatives offered a $5,000 reward.

Detective Robert Hughes took over the case, examining bank records and finding no activity since July 14th. Mark’s salary continued to deposit, but no money was withdrawn. Neighbors described the Davidsons as close-knit, with no apparent problems. Sarah and Tommy were happy and healthy, with active summer schedules.

A few false leads emerged — a tourist claimed to see a similar family on July 20th, but it was another group. A child’s backpack was found near a stream 40 km from the disappearance site, but DNA analysis was inconclusive. A truck driver reported seeing a red SUV speeding away from the mountains, but the sighting conflicted with other evidence and was ultimately dismissed.

The case was transferred to Detective Michael Green, who explored theories of voluntary disappearance, financial motives, and possible sightings in other states. Linda’s recent $8,000 inheritance remained untouched, contradicting the theory of a planned escape. Reports from Grand Junction and Durango about women and children resembling the Davidsons proved false after DNA tests and document checks.

The investigation continued for years without progress. Periodic searches yielded nothing. By 1996, public interest faded, and the case was consigned to the Unsolved Crimes Archive. Linda’s sister kept hope alive, placing ads and contacting police, but all leads were dead ends.

Years in the Dark

The Davidson case became one of Colorado’s most enduring mysteries. New detectives reviewed the file, but technology of the time offered little hope. DNA advances in 1997 failed to extract viable samples from the child’s backpack. The case resurfaced in local media on anniversaries, but no new facts emerged. By 2005, most original investigators had retired, and the file gathered dust in the police station’s basement.

The Breakthrough: Discovery in the Cabin

On October 23, 2009, two hunters from Aspen — brothers Carl and Danny Miller — stumbled upon an old, half-collapsed cabin hidden in a remote valley, 100 km from the original disappearance site. Inside, they found a chilling scene: a human skeleton tied to a chair with thick wire, surrounded by decaying clothing and metal objects. In a shallow cellar beneath the cabin, two smaller skeletons lay side by side.

Police arrived quickly, cordoning off the area and documenting the scene. Forensic examination revealed the skeletons matched the ages and heights of Mark, Sarah, and Tommy Davidson. The remains showed signs of systematic physical abuse: Mark had broken ribs, a shattered arm and jaw; the children suffered fractures to arms, legs, and skulls. The wire had cut into Mark’s bones, indicating he struggled while bound.

A red women’s hiking backpack was found inside, containing personal items but no documents or clothing. DNA analysis confirmed the remains were those of the missing Davidson family members — except Linda, whose body was not found.

The Investigation Reopens

Detective Sarah Connors took charge of the reopened case, now a homicide investigation. She reviewed all financial transactions and discovered a startling fact: Linda Davidson’s passport had been used in several states after the family’s disappearance. It was used to obtain a driver’s license in New Mexico (1996), open a bank account in Arizona (1998), and rent an apartment in Nevada (2001).

Connors traced the passport’s activity to Boulder, Colorado, where a woman named Linda Morrison had worked as a waitress since 2003. Restaurant staff described her as quiet and withdrawn; neighbors said she rarely left her apartment except for work.

On October 27, 2012, Linda Morrison was arrested at her home. DNA tests confirmed she was Linda Davidson. Initially silent, she eventually agreed to testify, revealing a story that would shock even seasoned detectives.

The Terrible Secret

Linda’s first account was one of abduction: She claimed a stranger named Rey attacked the family, held them captive in the cabin, and forced her to help kill her husband and children under threat. She said Rey spared her in exchange for her silence and helped her assume a new identity.

Investigators were skeptical. Why would a killer release the only witness to his crimes? Details were inconsistent, and Linda soon changed her story. She confessed that the true instigator was her brother David, who had threatened her for years, demanding she leave her family for him. Under this pressure, Linda poisoned her family with berries and finished them off with stones, staging her own death and fleeing with David.

Further investigation revealed David had died of a heart attack in 2007. Passport and financial records explained Linda’s movements across states, but the final confession was even more chilling: Linda admitted she killed her family voluntarily, driven by a twisted romantic relationship with her brother. No one forced her; she made the decision herself.

Justice and Aftermath

In March 2013, Linda Davidson was sentenced to life in prison without parole for the murder of her husband and children. She refused to appeal and remains incarcerated in Colorado. Mark, Sarah, and Tommy were finally laid to rest in the city cemetery, their funeral attended by friends and relatives who had waited 19 years for answers.

The Davidson case, which began as a search for a missing family, ended as one of the most brutal family murders in Colorado history. The discovery of the cabin and Linda’s confession forced investigators to rethink everything they thought they knew about family disappearances.