Authorities ID remains as those of missing treasure hunter

Santa Fe Police spokesman Greg Gurule said Tuesday, July 26, 2016, that the office of the medical investigator confirmed the remains recovered along the Rio Grande are those of Bilyeu.

Bilyeu set out for the Rocky Mountains in northern New Mexico with a raft and his pet dog on 5 January. It’s said to contain more than $1 million worth of gold, jewels and artifacts. Hearing and reading about the treasure waiting to be found in New Mexico prompted Bilyeu to try his luck out and join in the search.

Randy Bilyeu kept his treasure hunt secret, which made finding the 54-year-old almost impossible.

Fenn’s antique treasure chest inspired a craze of sorts for treasure-seeking enthusiasts after the 85-year-old art dearler hinted at it’s locale in a poem found on the pages of his 2010 book, “The Thrill of the Chase”.

The body of Randy Bilyeu of Broomfield who went missing in early January while searching for a $2 million treasure trove in New Mexico has been found. He had a Global Positioning System device, a wetsuit and waders.

But after a week passed without any contact, a anxious friend called Bilyeu’s ex-wife Linda in Florida. His small brown and white dog, Leo, and an inflatable raft were found about nine miles downstream. They share their experiences on blogs and brainstorm about the clues. However, Bilyeu’s friends, family members, other treasure hunters and his ex-wife never gave up trying to find Bilyeu’s remains.

This isn’t the first time someone has disappeared searching for Fenn’s treasure.

“That’s very unfortunate, and I’m sorry”, the Journal quoted Fenn as saying.

The story of Fenn’s hidden treasure has been written about in magazines and newspapers, and it has even been featured on nationally broadcast TV programs.