Missing Teen Found Trapped Inside Chimney After Seven-Year Search
Joshua Maddux went out for a walk one day—and never returned. Years later, his remains were discovered trapped inside a chimney, leaving the circumstances of his death shrouded in mystery.
A Frantic Search
Joshua Maddux, 18, was a free-spirited teen with a love for the outdoors. A bright student with a passion for writing and music, he lived in Woodland Park, Colorado, with his father and two sisters. Life had already dealt him unimaginable hardships, including the painful divorce of his parents and the devastating loss of his brother, Zachary, to suicide in 2006. Yet Joshua’s resilience and adventurous spirit kept him going.
On May 8, 2008, Joshua left home for a walk through nearby Pike National Forest, a familiar route for the nature-loving teen with long blond hair. He told his sister Kate he was heading out—but he never returned.
Days turned into weeks, weeks into months. His father, Mike Maddux, and friends scoured the neighborhood and forest, calling authorities when there was no sign of Joshua after five days. Years passed with no clue of his whereabouts.
Joshua’s family clung to hope. Kate imagined him traveling, writing, or living a solitary life he loved. They hoped he might one day return with stories to tell.