Body of Aspen man missing since Friday located Monday; coroner releases cause of death

The body of Alan Roberts, who left his Aspen home sometime Friday, was found Monday morning near a bike path in Aspen, the Aspen Police Department said in an update Monday.

Roberts, 56, had left his home on the north side of Aspen on Friday sometime between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on his bike and had not been seen or heard from since by his family and friends, Aspen Police said Sunday night in a Facebook post. The Pitkin County coroner said Wednesday the cause of death was suicide.

Police said they received a call Monday morning that a person saw a bike that resembled Roberts’ distinctive “John Deere” bike near a bike path in Aspen.

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“Investigating that lead, at about 10:30 a.m. Monday officers discovered a deceased body, later identified as Alan Roberts. The death is currently being investigated by the Pitkin County Coroner,” police said Monday. “There are no suspicious circumstances.”

Assistant Police Chief Bill Linn said Monday afternoon they received numerous calls since last night from people offering to help look for Roberts.

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In the news release, the police department thanked the community “for all of the support in this case. Without your help we would not have been able to bring closure to the case and to all of Alan’s friends and loved ones.”

Aspen Hope Center provides a free, 24-hour confidential Hopeline for anyone who needs help or is in a crisis. Reach the crisis line at 970-925-5858 (Aspen) or 970-306-4673 (Eagle River Valley). National Suicide Prevention Lifeline has a 24/7 support line at 1-800-273-8255.

Editor’s note: This story was updated with the cause of death reported by the Coroner’s Office.