Missing Person Kyle Ellis’ Remains Found in Park County

In August of 2025, the Sheridan County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by the Park County Sheriff’s Office and was advised human remains had been found on public land west of Cody, Wyoming and their investigation led them to believe the human remains may be of Kyle Ellis.

A missing person report was made by Kyle’s family in January of 2018, as he had not been seen or heard from for several days. Kyle was 29 years old at the time of the report, and he had the propensity to take religious journeys, primarily by foot and often weeks at a time, but he had always kept in contact with his family through Facebook.

Our investigation determined Kyle was last observed at the Bear Lodge Resort in the Bighorn Mountains on January 8, 2018 and was later given a ride to Greybull, Wyoming. Since January 8, 2018, until present day, there has been no new developments or investigative leads on the case.

Throughout the years’, Sheridan County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Mike Mullikin presented Kyle Ellis’ missing person case to the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation’s cold case team, comprised of agents throughout Wyoming, in hopes of educating law enforcement on Kyle’s case and obtaining any investigatory leads as to Kyle’s disappearance or whereabouts.

After the human remains were discovered in Park County, the Park County Sheriff’s Office, along with the Park County Coroner, sent a bone from the scene to the Wyoming State Crime Lab for DNA testing and analysis. Kyle’s parents provided DNA samples for comparative DNA to assist in confirmation.

On October 16, 2025, the Wyoming State Crime Lab confirmed, through DNA, the human remains were identified as Kyle Ellis.

At this time, there is no indication foul play was involved in Kyle’s death and it appears he likely died from exposure to inclement weather.

The Sheridan County Sheriff’s Office would like to commend Sergeant Mike Mullkin for his dedication since he began investigating this case in 2018. Our office would also like to thank the Park County Sheriff’s Office, the Park County Coroner, the Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office, Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Wyoming State Crime Lab for their continued support and assistance with this investigation.

“We hope this brings closure to Kyle’s parents, his family, friends and our community,” Sheriff Levi Dominguez said. “Kyle’s family has been nothing but supportive and patient throughout these years and our thoughts and prayers are with them through this time.”