Laramie Police Confirm Human Remains Belong to Christopher Dale Mauk

By Jennifer Kocher

Special to the Wyoming Truth

The human remains discovered in Laramie in early November have been positively identified as Christopher Dale Mauk, who had been missing for more than a year.

The Laramie Police Department announced Monday that dental records determined the remains belong to Mauk, according to Ryan Thompson, a support services lieutenant. A cause of death has yet to be confirmed pending the coroner’s report, Thompson said in an email to the Wyoming Truth.

A dog walker found skeletal remains on Nov. 5, along the Greenbelt near W. Curtis Street. At the time of the discovery, police notified Mauk’s father, Jerry, that the remains were likely those of his son.

For Jerry and the family, the discovery is one step closer to solving the mystery of what happened to 40-year-old Mauk after he disappeared, though it brings them little relief.

“There’s a lot of heartache, you know,” Jerry said on Tuesday. “I was holding out hope that something else would have happened.”

Now, Jerry is eager to learn the manner of his son’s death and whether or not anyone is responsible. The investigation remains ongoing, according to Thompson.

Mauk was reported missing in July 2022 after last being spotted at Lee’s Mobile Home Park, where he lived with his girlfriend, 42-year-old Nikki Gallegos. Mauk left their residence early in the morning of July 2 while she was sleeping, Gallegos said. Mauk left behind his wallet, eyeglasses and crutches that he needed to walk after losing his bottom left leg in a fireworks accident in 2018.

Mauk’s family will host a public celebration of his life on Saturday, Dec. 2 at 1 p.m. at the Eagles Club in Laramie.