Joe Keller’s Family Waits to have Son’s Personal Items Returned

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – It’s been over a year since a Bradley County man, Joe Keller, went missing while on a run in rural Colorado.

Colorado Law enforcement began a search for Keller until they ran out of money in their budget.
His body was found in June of this year and now his family is waiting for Colorado law enforcement to return his personal items.
Bradley County Commissioner and family friend, Dan Rawls, said the Kellers are waiting for contact from Colorado law enforcement.

“His family has gone through a lot through in this process, because not only do they have the loss of a son, but the distance.”

After DNA results confirmed it was Joe Keller, his family has made multiple attempts to have his personal belongings returned.

Rawls said Colorado law enforcement has Keller’s cell phone and laptop.

Rawls believes the Conejos Sheriff’s Department is withholding those items on purpose.

“Apparently there was a lot of attacks on social media to this department and towards this county bemoaning them for not continuing when they had no way to continue.”

News 12 spoke with the Bradley County Sheriff’s Department about their relationship with Colorado law enforcement.

“As far as I know the relationship is still great. We’re just trying to as a matter of courtesy just trying to get his personable belongings back. We’ve given a phone call. We haven’t gotten a phone call back.”

News 12 also reached out to the Conejos Sheriff’s Department, but we were told the sheriff was out town. We were redirected to the “under sheriff” and left a voicemail. Our call has yet to be returned.

Rawls is pleading to Colorado law enforcement.

“Return the property to the Kellers and let’s let everybody you know bring some resolution to the situation.”