30 years ago – April 27, 1990
At least one of the bodies pulled from an inactive mineshaft near Central City last week has been positively identified by forensics experts who used dental records in their investigation. The first remains recovered from the once-rich gold mine near Dry Lakes were those of Luther “Luke” Clyburn, confirming what law enforcement officials suspected. The second skeleton, believed to belong to John McDaniel, awaits positive identification. Authorities are attempting to get dental records from Washington and California in order to see if they have the remains of McDaniel, who disappeared with Clyburn in 1981. Joining in the investigation are forensic pathologies Ben Galloway of Denver, forensic odontologist Wilbur Richie off Jefferson County, and forensic anthropologist Michael Hoffman of Colorado Springs. No results are expected before next week. Meanwhile, investigators with the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office are treating the case as a double murder. Working on leads, they say they have been inundated with stories on what happened to the two men who were last seen headed to the Chain O’ Mines on August 14, 1981, to pick up a cutting torch. The main theory is that Clyburn and McDaniel were possibly involved in gold investment fraud, which would be the motive behind their murder. As evidence in the bizarre case unfolds, the District Attorney’s Office may call a grand jury to delve into the mystery. If it does, it will be the first one to convene in this small mountain community.
These are difficult days for the family of Luke Clyburn. After the dramatic recovery of the remains of Clyburn and another man, the family began preparing funeral services to be held in Evansville, Indiana. “You think you’re prepared after so long a time,” said Clyburn’s daughter Beth Roman on Wednesday, “but you’re really not. It’s been hard.” Missing since August 14, 1981, Clyburn was last seen in the company of John McDaniel, a Chain O’ Mines employee. In August of 1981, Clyburn had just opened a new chapter in his life. After 37 years in business in Evansville, he had just retired. He and his wife had been enjoying a second honeymoon at their daughter’s Denver home in the three weeks prior to his disappearance. The Clyburns were familiar with the Central City area; they had been spending vacations with daughter Beth Roman, secretary for the Chain O’ Mines, ever since she had moved to Denver. Though the two planned to continue living in Indiana, Clyburn had leased a hard rock mine above Central City and planned to spend part of his time working the property. McDaniel had placer and hard rock properties in Summit County and worked locally as a miner. On the day the two men disappeared, they were getting equipment ready to take to Summit County to work on a placer while the weather was good. Although new to mining, Clyburn enjoyed it immensely, his daughter said. When he disappeared, the Evansville newspaper characterized Clyburn as a “selfless, good man who truly lived out his fate.” He was a deacon in the Evansville Baptist Church, and head of the local Christian Businessman’s Association. Through the association, he worked extensively with jail and prison inmates, counselling them and helping them to secure jobs. The family is grateful to everyone who worked on the recovery last week. Roman said, “There’s no way we can thank people for the long, hard effort they put in,” she said. “We’re thankful that no one was hurt.” The Clyburn’s five children are scattered, but Roman said they will all be home for the services. “It will be a comfort to finally know where he is,” she said. “Now maybe I can go back to Central City and look at all he piles of dirt without wondering… He spent all his life doing for others. He had just started doing something for himself. It ended so abruptly,” Roman said. “That morning he came back and kissed mother goodbye and said, ‘I love you.’ That morning I though he looked better than he ever had.”
Support authors and subscribe to content
Subscribe to read the entire article.
