Mystery Deepens in Case of Missing Colorado Marine

BOULDER, Colo. (Sept. 16) -- The story was compelling. A marine home on leave from his first tour of duty in Iraq was injured in a fall while hiking down a mountain with a friend and vanished after the friend went to call for help.

As one of the largest search and rescue operations in state history was under way, speculation ran high that the marine, Lance Cpl. Lance Hering, 21, might have lost his memory or become disoriented as a result of his head injury or that a mountain lion or bear had attacked him.

On the second day of the search, investigators began to have their suspicions and have since said that it was all probably a hoax and that the marine might be on the run.

"The mystery has gotten deeper," said Lloyd Hering, the corporal’s father.

What is known is that Corporal Hering left his parents’ house on Aug. 29 to hike with a high school buddy, Steve Powers, 20.

The search for him lasted five days, using helicopters, dogs and hundreds of volunteers, before it was called off.

It is certainly disappointing for that have all to have been a waste and unnecessary exercise," said Kevin Harner of the Rocky Mountain Rescue Group.

In the first days of the search, Corporal Hering’s mother, Elynne, wore a T-shirt with the Marine motto “Semper Fi” as she combed the mountains. She later collapsed from dehydration and exhaustion.

Mr. Powers also joined the searchers, with many risking their lives.

Days after the search ended, Mr. Powers confessed to detectives that it had all been a set-up to help Corporal Hering avoid returning to Iraq. Mr. Powers, a student at the University of Colorado here, was charged with false reporting, a misdemeanor.

Calls to Mr. Powers’s lawyer were not returned, and his father, answering a call to his house, said his son was not answering questions.

Corporal Hering’s parents now say that they do not know what to believe and that they fear that their son may be a victim of foul play.

"There is no shred of evidence at all to confirm this man’s new story," Mr. Hering said of Mr. Powers’s confession. "It may be as completely false as the lies he told us all for 10 days."

Lloyd Hering is a Vietnam veteran, and the corporal’s brother Brendan, 23, who flew in to join the search, is in the Air Force. The family has repeatedly said that Corporal Hering, who is due back at Camp Pendleton, Calif., on Monday, is a proud marine who would not flee.

"His parents have one perspective," the Boulder County sheriff’s commander of detectives, Phil West, said. "A couple of people have come forward saying that Lance thought it would be cool to stage his own death and go live in a foreign country under an assumed name."

Commander West said Corporal Hering’s access to $2,000 that he owed his parents and his criminal record were red flags. In 2004, Corporal Hering and Mr. Powers were caught trying to break into a store. They were given deferred sentences for the felony charges, but they have now violated their probation.

Commander West said the authorities would seek restitution for the more than $10,000 that the search cost.

Corporal Hering could face legal trouble with the Marines on charges of lying on his application — he did not mention his arrest — and desertion if he does not return to his base on time.

On Tuesday, Corporal Hering’s parents returned to the rocks and rushing river of Eldorado Canyon to ask the public to help find their son.

"Our heartfelt thanks to the hundreds of volunteers," Lloyd Hering said. "We now know lots of places where Lance is not."