Silver Plume, Colorado, is a tiny former mining town tucked into the Rocky Mountains along Interstate 70. With a population of fewer than 200 people, it is the kind of place where everyone knows each other and history hangs heavy in the air. Yet beneath the town’s quiet charm lies a pair of chilling mysteries that remain unsolved to this day: the disappearances of Tom Young in 1987 and Keith Reinhard in 1988.
Though separated by only a year, the two cases share eerie similarities and have since become the stuff of legend in Colorado lore. Some believe they are connected, while others insist they are tragic but unrelated.
The Disappearance of Tom Young
49-year-old Tom Young was a well-liked resident of Silver Plume. He ran a small bookshop in town, spending his days surrounded by literature and conversation. On September 7, 1987, Young and his loyal dog, Gus, vanished without a trace. His shop appeared undisturbed, but he and his pet were simply gone.
For nine months, the town speculated about his fate. Some suggested he left to start a new life; others whispered darker possibilities. The truth came to light in July 1988, when hunters stumbled upon skeletal remains in the mountains about an hour’s hike from Silver Plume. The remains were identified as Young and Gus. Both had died from a single gunshot wound, with a revolver found at the scene. Authorities ruled it a suicide, though some locals doubted the conclusion.
A Writer Drawn to Mystery
Enter Keith Reinhard, a 49-year-old journalist and sports editor from Illinois. In the summer of 1988, Reinhard took a sabbatical to live in Silver Plume, determined to write a novel and experience life in a mountain town. He rented out the very same shop space that Tom Young had occupied, finding inspiration in the mystery that lingered over Silver Plume.
Fascinated by Young’s story, Reinhard began weaving elements of it into his novel. His main character was a man who, dissatisfied with life, walks into the wilderness to disappear. Friends later recalled Reinhard speaking often about the thin line between reality and fiction and how he believed middle age was a time to “do something bold.”
Keith Reinhard’s Vanishing Act
On August 7, 1988—exactly 11 months after Tom Young disappeared—Reinhard set out for a hike on Pendleton Mountain, located just above Silver Plume. He told friends he planned to climb the peak, a difficult trek even for experienced hikers, but he carried no gear suitable for such an undertaking.
When Reinhard did not return, a massive search operation was launched. Over 100 individuals, helicopters, and trained dogs scoured the rugged terrain. For seven days, searchers battled altitude, exhaustion, and dangerous conditions, but no trace of Reinhard was ever found.
To this day, his disappearance remains unsolved. Unlike Young, no remains, belongings, or definitive evidence ever surfaced.
Theories and Speculation
The parallels between the two cases have fueled endless speculation:
- Coincidence or Connection? Both men were 49, both operated out of the same shop, and both vanished in August—Young in 1987, Reinhard in 1988.
- Inspired by Young’s Fate? Some believe Reinhard deliberately followed in Young’s footsteps, blending life with art.
- An Accident in the Mountains? Others argue Reinhard underestimated the dangers of the rugged terrain and simply fell victim to nature.
- Foul Play? A minority believe both cases may involve darker forces, though no evidence has ever surfaced to support this.
Today, Silver Plume remains a quiet mountain town with a haunting story. Visitors often stop by to hear locals recount the tale of two men who vanished under such uncanny circumstances. For residents, the mysteries of Tom Young and Keith Reinhard serve as reminders of the harsh realities of mountain life—and the enduring power of unanswered questions.
Whether the two cases are linked or forever separate tragedies, they continue to fascinate true-crime enthusiasts and leave Silver Plume with a reputation as a place where history and mystery collide.