APD: Video footage shows missing man board, exit bus

A photo of George Aldrich taken at Eric's Bar at about 10:30 p.m. Nov. 27, just before police believe he went missing.
Via the Aspen Police Department

An intelligent and likable twenty-something from Rhode Island, Aldrich told his family he loved Aspen, where he landed a job as a lift operator and had hoped to teach snowboarding. Those who know him say he is a hard worker and reliable. Missing work just doesn't seem like something they say he'd do.

"He is a college graduate who majored in business at Johnson & Wales University," Aldrich's sister, Brooke Aldrich-Glasgow who lives back East, told AOL News earlier this week. "He loved marketing, but snowboarding is his first passion. He is an outdoors guy, and he's in love with Aspen."

Aldrich's father, George Sr., who is dean of admissions at LaSalle Academy in Providence, R.I., and the missing man's brother, Sean Aldrich, flew to Aspen this week to help authorities in their search for George Jr.

Someone with the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority reviewing footage spotted Aldrich boarding a bus alone not long after his friends had seen him at Eric's Bar. Aspen police say the video appears to show Aldrich sat alone and left alone, although several other passengers got off at the same stop.

It is not known where Aldrich went next.

He didn't live at Truscott, off of Highway 82 on the outskirts of Aspen. He was living in Club Commons employee housing in Snowmass Village.

“Police are attempting to identify other bus passengers who boarded the same downvalley bus Saturday night at Rubey Park,” authorities said Friday.

The video is reportedly the best lead police have in the case so far. Search and rescue teams on foot and by air have already scoured parts of the upper valley looking for Aldrich. They are planning a renewed ground search of the Truscott area and Aspen municipal golf course on Saturday to try to learn more about Aldrich's disappearance.