When a jogger in Golden stumbled upon a man’s lifeless body near the Coors Brewery in 1981, no one would have imagined it would take 28 years to solve the homicide.

Anthony Yanish

Christopher Sorensen

Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Unit led by Investigator Cheryl Moore began re-investigating the 1981 murder earlier this year. According to Paonia Police Chief Scott Leon, the investigators came back to the area twice in recent months. “It’s amazing how cases like that can be resolved over a long period of time,” Leon said. “I think it’s great that someone will face justice.”

Jacki Kelley, public information director for the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, said a tip lead the investigation in a new direction, “and proved to be very valuable.” Kelley added, “You just never know when the right tip comes along. Loyalties and alliances change over years. People who are unwilling to report what they know immediately after the fact, over the years might come forward. People certainly change. Evidence collection certainly has changed. Technology and DNA have changed. There are so many good reasons that we keep these homicide cases open forever.”

While the arrest warrant and affidavits are sealed in this case, the Jeffco Sheriff’s Office would disclose that Yanish’s body was discovered around noon on March 10, 1981 adjacent to the roadway in the 4500 block of Easley Road. Yanish was last seen in Glenwood Springs the day before. He was a coal miner at Hawk’s Nest Mine and had a few days off due to a work stoppage protesting black lung disease. He and a friend spent March 9 between Paonia and Glenwood Springs. When his friend returned to Paonia, Yanish decided to stay behind. His body was found the next day in Golden.

“After months of tenacious investigation, the cold case investigator was able to uncover many previously undisclosed details about the homicide, resulting in the arrest of Christopher Sorensen,” Kelley said. Sorensen and Yanish were acquainted.

“Although many new details about this case cannot be shared, family members and sheriff’s investigators are pleased to bring closure and justice to this 28-year-old case.”

Kelley shared, “We never close murder cases ever. We always remain hopeful. If we are not able to solve a murder case immediately, there is still a lot of hope for those cases. This is a beautiful example of how you can still solve the homicide 28 years after the fact.”

Cheryl Moore has solved 12 cold cases for the Jefferson County Sheriff. “We are so very proud of her.” She has cases that go back to the 1950s. “She’s passionate about what she does. Solving a 28-year-old case absolutely feeds that fire in her.”

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