Authorities in New Mexico have positively identified a body found Sunday as that of Grand Junction Connection Church Lead Pastor, Paris Wallace.

Pastor Paris Wallace
Connection Church Facebook
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Wallace was reported missing on Wednesday (April 14) after traveling to Espanola, New Mexico earlier in the week.

Authorities located Wallace's vehicle on Thursday near the town of Pilar, New Mexico. Authorities also located a backpack belonging to Wallace. Those items helped authorities narrow the search area where Wallace was likely to be located.

It was later revealed Wallace was in New Mexico searching for the Fenn Treasure when he disappeared. Authorities used cell phone records and a receipt of items purchased, including some rope, which they also located in the search to assist in finding Wallace.

Late Monday, afternoon (June 19), Connection Church posted on their Facebook Page a national news organization published a story the body recovered was Wallace. The story was published prior to the official release from the Medical Examiner's Office.

Wallace is not the only person from Colorado to die along the Rio Grande River in New Mexico trying to locate the Fenn Treasure. On January 2016, Randy Bilyeu was reported missing while searching for the treasure. His remains were found July 18 along the Rio Grande River north of Cochiti Lake.

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