Authorities close the case on the death of Broomfield treasure hunter Randy Bilyeu

Bilyeu had moved to Colorado to search for a cache of gold and jewels that was supposedly hidden somewhere in the Rockies by a Santa Fe.

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Associated Press

By Susan Montoya Bryan, Associated Press

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The case of a man who moved out West to search for a $2 million hidden treasure then turned up dead in New Mexico’s backcountry has officially been closed after authorities struggled to solve the mystery.

Investigators recently informed the family of Randy Bilyeu that they were closing the case.

Family members in Florida say they’re relieved yet saddened that they may never know what happened to the 54-year-old father and grandfather during his fateful treasure hunt.

Bilyeu had moved to Colorado to search for a cache of gold and jewels that was supposedly hidden somewhere in the Rockies by a Santa Fe, New Mexico, antiquities dealer and author.

His skeletal remains were discovered last summer along the Rio Grande, months after he went missing.

Autopsy results showed there wasn’t enough evidence left for investigators to determine what caused Bilyeu’s death. There were no broken bones or other skeletal injuries.

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