Mother Nature Bites Burglars

Even if they're convicted of burglarizing a Roosevelt business and running from police, it's unlikely two Colorado men will face a penalty more severe than the one meted out over the weekend by Mother Nature. That's because the pair suffered frostbite injuries so severe doctors may have to amputate some of their fingers and toes, according to Uintah County Sheriff's Chief Deputy John Laursen. The incident began Saturday about 3:20 a.m. when Bureau of Indian Affairs police officers asked sheriff's deputies for help with a vehicle pursuit. Deputies and Utah Highway Patrol troopers responded to the request, and authorities located the empty vehicle at an oil field location south of Ouray.

Officers found the four individuals hiding outside in an area where there was 18 inches of snow on the ground and the temperature was at least minus-20 degrees Fahrenheit, Laursen said. "All four suspects were suffering from various frostbite injuries," he said. Steven Leslie Wright, Nicole Lynn Beyer, Nicholas Pacheco and Christian Rowls, all from Grand Junction, Colo., were transported to Uintah Basin Medical Center in Roosevelt."It is believed that two of the people who ran suffered extreme frostbite and may lose fingers and toes," Laursen said."I've never seen frostbite like that before," Rowley said. "I went in last night and their fingers are starting to split open."