An 18-year-old Colorado woman may now face charges after she climbed into an abandoned missile silo, got stuck there, and rescuers had to retrieve her from 60 feet underground.
The Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office reported that the 18-year-old female descended the ladder of an abandoned missile silo on private property close to the Arapahoe County Fairgrounds at around three in the morning on Wednesday.
After climbing into the missile silo, she got stuck 50 to 60 feet underground, but a 16-year-old and a 17-year-old who were with her were able to get out and called 911.
After nearly half an hour, members of the South Metro Fire Rescue and the sheriff’s office were able to rescue the woman. They sent her to the hospital for additional assessment.
“They are dangerous. There are dangerous gases inside that could harm you. There’s carbon dioxide; you could be poisoned. Not to mention, injured from falling. Please, please stay out of these missile silos,” Ginger Delgado with the sheriff’s office told KDVR News.
The Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office also reported that it has not yet determined whether to press criminal charges. Authorities are considering third-degree criminal trespass among the potential violations. The report did not state how the teens entered the property, nor did it identify the three individuals involved.
This was the third rescue at an abandoned missile silo in Colorado in the past year
In 2024, two teens were cited for second-degree criminal trespass for breaking into an abandoned missile silo near Deer Trail in Arapahoe County. A sheriff’s office spokesperson also said at the time that six other teens would face trespassing charges.
In that situation, one of the teenagers plummeted down a two-story shaft in the underground complex, landing at the bottom on metal, concrete, and standing water. After being rescued, the teen had to be airlifted to the hospital with serious injuries.
Then, in January 2025, another teen had to be rescued after falling approximately 50 feet into another abandoned missile silo in Arapahoe County.
Sable Altura Fire Rescue crews built a rope system to lower two crew members into “what is believed to be the exhaust vent tunnel of a [decommissioned] Titan Missile Facility.”
“A reminder…the military history on the eastern plains of Colorado, is better left to the history books,” Sable Altura Fire Rescue said. “PLEASE do not think for any moment, that these are safe environments to enter or explore.”