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Colorado Man Searching For Treasure In New Mexico Goes Missing

DENVER (CBS4) - Rescue teams have suspended the search for a man from Broomfield who went hunting for hidden treasure in New Mexico and never returned home.

Randy Bilyeu, 54, left his home in Broomfield earlier in the month with his dog Leo.

It's been over a week since anyone has heard from him, which his family said is very unlike him, prompting a missing persons report.

Bilyeu went in search of millions of dollars' worth of gold coins said to be placed somewhere in the Rockies by Santa Fe millionaire Forrest Fenn.

The key to finding the treasure is a poem that he wrote littered with clues.

In an interview with CBS last year, Fenn recounted the moment he left the loot behind.

"When I walked back to my car I talked to myself out loud, there was nobody around, and I said Forrest Fenn did you really do that?"

Fenn has been in close contact with crews searching for Bilyeu.

Rescue teams quickly found signs of the missing man, but the clues have led nowhere.

search for treasure hunter Randy Bilyeu
(credit: New Mexico State Police)

Bilyeu's dog was found, as well as a raft he was using to search for the treasure, which had the oars neatly laid beside it on the bank of the Rio Grande.

According to his daughter, Carissa Nieves, this was not his first treasure hunt.

"It's amazing that he wouldn't get discouraged after not finding the treasure. And that he truly believed he would find it, but really enjoyed the adventure," she said in a statement.

Although the official search is temporarily suspended, about 50 people from the treasure hunting community have decided to go out and look for Bilyeu. With Fenn's help, they will also have the use of an airplane.

search for treasure hunter Randy Bilyeu
(credit: New Mexico State Police)
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