CBI Seeks Help in 2017 Trinidad Disappearance of Local Woman

On November 19 the Colorado Bureau of Investigation issued a public request for assistance in the cold case of Tammy Jean Friesth, who was last seen in Trinidad in November 2017. The case is listed by the CBI as a cold case, and investigators are asking anyone with information to contact the bureau.

According to the CBI and reporting by The Chronicle News, Friesth, 56, was last seen in November 2017 and her siblings had not heard from her since July 2017. She had moved to Trinidad the year before her disappearance and was reportedly known to drive a blue Pontiac Vibe. Her physical description in the CBI release lists her as a 5 foot 2 inch, 125 pound white woman with blue eyes and gray or partially gray hair. Distinctive tattoos include two purple feathers on her forearm and a butterfly on her left hand.

The renewed public appeal highlights the challenges of investigating cases as they age. Evidence can degrade and memories can fade, which makes new tips potentially decisive even many years after an initial disappearance. For family members who have waited for answers since 2017, any new information could change the direction of the investigation and possibly lead to closure.

For residents of Las Animas County the CBI request serves as a reminder of the role community information plays in solving cold cases. Small towns and tight knit communities often hold details that do not surface until someone recognizes a name, a vehicle, or a physical description. The blue Pontiac Vibe mentioned by investigators and the specific tattoo descriptions are examples of identifiers that could trigger recognition among neighbors or acquaintances.

Law enforcement officials encourage anyone who remembers unusual activity, conversations, or sightings from the months surrounding mid 2017 to come forward. Even seemingly minor observations can yield investigative leads when pieced together with other information. Tips can be submitted confidentially to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation at 303 239 4320.

The CBI classification of the case as cold underscores both the passage of time and the continued need for public engagement. For local officials and community organizations, renewed attention to longstanding missing person cases can also prompt discussions about resource allocation, victim support services, and outreach strategies to improve reporting and tip flow. In the meantime the primary focus remains gathering information that could help determine what happened to Tammy Jean Friesth and bring answers to her family and the Trinidad community.