A woman who disappeared from her home in Colorado nearly seven years ago has been conclusively identified after human remains were found in her own garage, bringing a chilling close to a long-unanswered disappearance. Her family and authorities alike are now left grappling with how such a case went unresolved for so long.
Disappearance & Initial Search Efforts
In August 2018, 56-year-old Terri Ann Ackerman vanished from her residence on Polar Street where she lived with her husband Delbert “Dale” Ackerman.
Immediately after her disappearance, law enforcement deployed drones, search dogs and conducted thorough sweeps of the home and surrounding property, yet no trace of her was found at the time.
It wasn’t until late October 2025 that skeletal remains discovered on the property were identified as belonging to Ackerman.
Discovery and Identification
The remains were located in her own garage, mere feet from where she once lived—a startling revelation given the extensive earlier searches.
Her stepson, Sean Ackerman, was the one who found the bone, and has publicly stated he does not believe his father was involved in her death.
With her identification confirmed via forensic testing, the case has now shifted from missing-person status to a death investigation—with many unanswered questions remaining.
Questions Lagging Behind the Answers
How a woman could vanish from her own home and remain undetected for nearly seven years has sparked widespread concern. The proximity of the remains to the home, combined with previous search efforts, has left investigators and the community asking critical questions.
What caused her death? Why was no trace discovered earlier? Who had access, and when? These are issues that authorities are now confronting as they re-examine the case through the lens of a death rather than a disappearance.
