Becky Vance, Christine Vance and son watched YOUTUBE videos to prepare for deadly Colorado life ‘off the grid’

• Christine Vance, 41, Rebecca Vance, 42, and Rebecca’s 14-year-old son, all of Colorado Springs were identified as the bodies discovered earlier this month 
• Their stepsister said they had no significant survival knowledge or experience
• Rebecca convinced Christine to come with her and her son as she was exasperated by the state of the world, the stepsister added

A family who died while trying to live ‘off grid’ used YouTube to prepare for their new life ‘away from everything’ – even as their family begged them to reconsider their plan.

The mummified remains of Christine Vance, 41, Rebecca ‘Becky’ Vance, 42, and Rebecca’s 14-year-old son, were found earlier this month about 1,000 feet from a campsite in the Gunnison National Forest in Colorado.

Last summer, Rebecca convinced her sister to leave her life in Colorado Springs behind and move to the wilderness with her and her son – despite having little to none survival skills, their stepsister Trevala Jara told The New York Post.

‘At first Christine didn’t want to go, but she changed her mind. She felt like they had a better chance at living if she went with them,’ Jara said. ‘And she didn’t want our sister and nephew to be alone.’

Jara, 39. said she and her husband begged her stepsisters to abandon their plan, but Becky refused. Without any preparation aside from YouTube videos on survival, the trio left in early August of 2022, with Becky refusing to say where they were headed.

Christine Vance, 41,(second to left) Rebecca Vance, 42, and Rebecca’s 14-year-old son, were found dead earlier this month. This photo was taken just days before they left for their journey last summer. Their stepsister Trevala Jara is pictured in the middle

Trevala Jara says she tried to warn stepsister Christine  Vance from undertaking the off-the-grid move that killed her, her sister and her teenage son 

The family was found this month about 1,000 feet from a campsite in the Gunnison National Forest. They reportedly prepared for life off the grid by watching survival videos on YouTube

Officials believe the family died sometime in the winter, likely from starvation, freezing temperatures or carbon monoxide poisoning from trying to make fire to stay warm.

Autopsy reports are pending.  

Although she knew it was a bad idea, Jara was still shocked when she learned of her family’s fate.

‘I didn’t want to believe it, and it was really hard. There was a lot of screaming involved.’

A loner and introvert, single mom Rebecca was reportedly exasperated by the state of the world after the pandemic and wanted to leave it all behind, even though she was not outdoorsy or even a hiker.

Christine was more more comfortable in the outdoors and more outgoing, Jara added. But her stepmom Ann Kaskewicz told the Colorado Gazette that she often went along with ‘whatever Becky said.’

‘She didn’t trust anyone, including the government,’ the stepmom added.

Kaskewicz said she asked Rebecca about how she planned to survive in the rough Colorado wilderness, but she did not get any clear answers – just her assurance that she wanted to leave it all behind.

Rebecca’s son, who was home schooled before going off the grid, has not been identified by authorities.

‘He was scared and excited at the same time,’ Jara told The Post.

‘He was only 13 when they left. He didn’t know what living off the grid entails at all, but he wanted to be with his mom.’ 

Gunnison County Coroner Michael Barnes said the bodies, two of which were found inside the tent and one outside, showed signs of malnourishment and decomposed and partially mummified.

The first of the three bodies was reported to authorities when a hiker came across the campsite around 20 miles from the small town of Gunnison

The sisters had been ‘discouraged with the state of the world’ in recent years, and set off last summer to permanently live off the grid in the remote area

The first of the three bodies was found by a hiker on July 9 outside a tent not far from the Gold Creek Campground, about 20 miles from the small town of Gunnison.

Deputies responded to the area and discovered two more bodies inside the zipped-up tent. At the campsite alongside the bodies were empty food cans, books and a restroom area, Barnes said. The only food found at their shelter was a single package of ramen.

It appeared they had begun to build a ‘lean-to’ type shelter but not finished by the time last year’s harsh winter began, he added.

‘I wonder if winter came on quickly and suddenly they were just in survival mode in the tent,’ Barnes said. ‘They had a lot of literature with them about outdoor survival and foraging and stuff like that. But it looked like they supplied at a grocery store.’

Jara said she hopes her family’s tragic story will help others think twice before considering living off the grid because of fear.

She said she hoped that her family’s story would prompt others to think twice before choosing to live similar lifestyles off the grid.

‘I know this world is scary,’ Jara said. ‘But don’t let that fear, that doubt, all of that take over.’

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