A Colorado man has been arrested on murder charges linked to a cold case that remained unsolved for 25 years. James Daniel “Dan” Bishop, now 68, is facing first-degree murder charges in connection with the disappearance of Dale Williams, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) announced.
Williams, 42, who owned an auto body shop in Nucla, was last seen on May 27, 1999, after receiving a call to assist a stranded motorist. Six weeks later, his truck was discovered submerged in the Dolores and San Miguel Rivers, but his body has never been found.
Investigators located a .22 caliber rifle in the truck’s bed, with a spent shell casing in the chamber. Authorities stated that the rifle belonged to Bishop, based on firearm purchase records. In 1999, Bishop was questioned about the case after being seen on surveillance footage removing missing person posters from a Nucla post office, but no arrests were made at that time.
For years, the case had no new leads and went cold. However, Montrose County Sheriff Gene R. Lillard made a commitment to Williams’s family to keep the investigation alive. “He was the driving force for our agency to remain involved,” said Sergeant Chuck Searcy, the lead investigator.
In September 2023, the CBI, in collaboration with the Montrose County Sheriff’s Office, reopened the case. Searcy and CBI Agent in Charge Brandon Ludwig provided fresh insights, uncovering new information about the relationship between Williams and Bishop.
Investigators revealed that about a year before Williams’s disappearance, he and his wife, Diana, assisted Bishop’s wife in leaving him and relocating to Texas. Authorities believe that Bishop may have conspired with his deceased cousin to murder Williams.
Sheriff Lillard expressed gratitude for the extensive efforts put into the investigation, stating, “It has taken an entire team effort of law enforcement, family, and concerned citizens to bring the case to where it is today.”
Bishop was arrested at his home in Naturita on October 17 by a joint task force including the Montrose County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Marshal’s Service, and the CBI. He is currently being held on a $1 million bond.
