Kendall Rae / 17 min
Active case
Disappearance of Kristal Reisinger

Kristal Anne Reisinger was a resident of Crestone, Colorado, who went missing on July 13, 2016. Originally from Arizona, Reisinger had a difficult childhood and became a ward of the court at age 15 while living in Denver. She later lived with the family of her boyfriend, Rodney and Debbie Ervin, and attended Western State College in Gunnison, where she met a close friend, Michael, whose family she also lived with at various points. In 2014, she moved to Gunnison to teach and study psychology and sociology at Western Colorado University before relocating to Crestone in the San Luis Valley later that spring. In Crestone, Reisinger worked at the Crestone Brewing Company. She was described as a spiritual person interested in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Native American religion, and practiced tarotology, describing herself as a clairvoyant and medium. She has one daughter with her former boyfriend, Elijah Guana.
Reisinger's landlord, Ara McDonald, notified the Saguache County Sheriff's Office of her prolonged absence on July 13, 2016. When investigators entered her apartment, they found her cell phone and medication left behind. Despite the last confirmed sighting being at her residence on July 13, numerous Crestone residents have claimed to have seen her at a Full Moon Drum Circle gathering on the night of July 18, 2016. McDonald and other sources have stated that the last person known to have called Reisinger was a local man with a criminal history involving drugging and assaulting victims; this individual has not been named or charged in connection with her disappearance.
A $20,000 reward has been offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for her disappearance. In 2018, the Saguache County Sheriff's Office and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation announced that they believed foul play was the cause of her disappearance. The case was later featured on an episode of the television series "The Missing" on ID Discovery.
In 2022, reports emerged that pieces of human bone had been found near a campground outside of Crestone. Authorities initially stated they did not believe the remains belonged to Reisinger, and later confirmed the bones were the cremated remains of another individual that had been spread by his family.
On August 7, 2025, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation issued its first public update on the case in several years, announcing that four cadaver dogs had been used the previous day to search a specific location in Crestone described as "believed to be connected to the case." The results of that search were not disclosed, though authorities renewed their call for tips from the public. As of the most recent reporting, Reisinger's whereabouts remain unknown and no one has been charged in connection with her disappearance.
Key facts
- Victims
- Kristal Reisinger
- Date
- 2016
- Location
- Crestone, Colorado
- Case status
- unsolved
Case timeline
2014
Kristal Reisinger moves from Denver to Gunnison, Colorado, to teach and take coursework at Western Colorado University.
2014
Later in the year, Reisinger moves to Crestone, Colorado, in the San Luis Valley.
2016-07-13
Last confirmed sighting of Reisinger at her residence in downtown Crestone; her landlord later reports her prolonged absence to the Saguache County Sheriff's Office.
2016-07-18
Multiple Crestone residents claim to have seen Reisinger at a Full Moon Drum Circle gathering.
2018
Saguache County Sheriff's Office and Colorado Bureau of Investigation announce they believe foul play was involved in Reisinger's disappearance.
2022
Human bone fragments found near a campground outside Crestone; later confirmed not to be Reisinger's remains but the spread cremains of another individual.
2025-08-06
Four cadaver dogs used to search a location in Crestone described as connected to the case.
2025-08-07
Colorado Bureau of Investigation gives its first public update on the case in several years, renewing the call for tips.
Best coverage
Titles and descriptions are the creators’ own and may not reflect current legal status; see the dossier above for sourced case facts.
People
Kristal Reisinger
VICTIMMissing person; last confirmed seen July 13, 2016, in Crestone, Colorado
Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.
Places
Common questions
- What happened to the victim?
- Kristal Reisinger, a mother and Crestone, Colorado resident, went missing on July 13, 2016, and has not been found. Authorities have said they believe foul play was involved, but the case remains unsolved.
- Where did the disappearance happen?
- Crestone, Colorado.
- What is the current status of the case?
- Status: unsolved.
Sources
- ENCYCLOPEDICDisappearance of Kristal ReisingerWikipedia · 2026-07-07
- PRESSSheriff comments on new info in missing person casecenterpostdispatch.com · 2026-07-07
- PRESSFoul play suspected in case of missing motherkdvr.com · 2026-07-07
Record history
- First published
- JUL 10, 2026




