Skeletal Remains Identified as Rodeo Competitor, Death Ruled Accidental

Authorities announced on November 28, 2025 that remains located last month near Scotts Bluff National Monument belonged to Chance Englebert, the young man who disappeared in October 2019 while visiting family in Gering, Nebraska. The identification brings a resolution to a long running missing person case that left relatives and the local community seeking answers for more than six years.

Investigators from the Gering Police Department and the Scotts Bluff County Attorney reviewed the circumstances surrounding Englebert's disappearance and the condition of the remains. They found no evidence indicating foul play and concluded the injuries were consistent with a fall from a height estimated at roughly 130 to 290 feet. Surveillance footage from the evening Englebert went missing showed him walking in the area near the monument, and searches in the months and years that followed produced no trace until hikers reported possible remains in October 2025.

Family members said the identification brought answers but not complete closure. The news has reverberated through Gering and surrounding communities where residents followed the case and joined search efforts on multiple occasions. For those who live, work, or recreate near the monument, the outcome underscores the risks that rugged terrain can pose and the importance of caution around high bluffs and steep drop offs.

For practical purposes, anyone visiting Scotts Bluff National Monument or similar areas should stay on marked trails, keep a safe distance from cliff edges, carry a charged communication device, and report any suspicious findings to local authorities immediately. The resolution of this case will allow law enforcement and family members to move forward while reminding the community of the value of persistent reporting and the role that hikers and neighbors often play in solving cold cases.

The Gering Police Department and the Scotts Bluff County Attorney handled the investigation and identification process. As the family continues to process the loss, the community is left with a mix of relief at answers and sorrow for a life cut short.