Sarah Arielle Skiba

Status:

Open

Jurisdiction:

Westminster Police Department (CO)

Missing From:

Westminster, Colorado

Summary:

Sarah Arielle Skiba was a 9-year-old girl who disappeared on February 7, 1999 from Westminster, Colorado while accompanying her father Paul Skiba and his employee Lorenzo Chivers on a moving job. A moving truck belonging to the company was discovered with bullet holes and blood evidence belonging to Sarah and Paul. The case is now classified as a suspected homicide, and the three victims' bodies have never been recovered.

Vital Statistics

Circumstances of Disappearance:

On February 7, 1999, Sarah was visiting her father Paul Skiba for a scheduled weekend visitation. That morning, she accompanied Paul and his employee Lorenzo Chivers on moving jobs in the Denver area. The group completed a move in Morrison, Colorado and were last seen at approximately 6:00 p.m. heading back to return the moving truck to the Tuff Movers facility in Westminster. Sarah made a final phone call at 6:22 p.m. The three arrived back at the truck yard around 7:00 p.m., located at 7010 Raleigh Street in Westminster. Investigators later determined that Sarah, Paul, and Lorenzo were murdered shortly after arriving at the facility. The Tuff Movers moving truck was discovered abandoned in the company parking lot with bullet holes in its side and blood evidence inside. DNA testing confirmed the blood belonged to Paul and Sarah Skiba. A piece of human scalp with hair attached was found inside the vehicle near the windshield. The metal extension ramp for the truck was also missing from the lot. The bodies were likely transported away from the scene in the moving truck to an unknown location.

Additional Details:

Sarah's mother, Michelle Russell, reported her daughter missing when Paul failed to return her home from the weekend visitation. Initially, investigators believed Paul had abducted Sarah, possibly with Chivers' assistance, and a warrant was issued for Paul's arrest. However, the discovery of the abandoned truck with bullet holes and blood evidence changed the investigation's direction. Investigators found extensive evidence at the moving and storage facility located on the 7000 block of Raleigh Street in Westminster. Physical evidence was located at the facility and in or on two moving trucks owned by the business. In April 1999, DNA testing confirmed that blood found on the truck's door belonged to Paul Skiba. The volume and distribution of blood indicated both Paul and Sarah had been fatally injured. On February 17, 1999, a vehicle belonging to Lorenzo Chivers was found parked in an apartment complex parking lot at 3809 West 68th Avenue in Westminster, several blocks from the Tuff Movers facility. On February 27, 1999, Paul Skiba's vehicle was located in an apartment complex parking lot at 3100 block of Arkansas Avenue in Denver. In August 1999, authorities were believed to be preparing to make an arrest, but the report proved false. No one has ever been charged in connection with the disappearances. The case has remained cold for over 26 years. The disappearances received national attention and were profiled on The Montel Williams Show, America's Most Wanted, and by journalist Nancy Grace. In 2016, Sarah, Paul, and Lorenzo's names were included on a list of missing persons as part of a Colorado Senate bill petitioning for a statewide Missing Persons Day, which was signed into law on February 5 of that year. As of 2025, authorities announced a breakthrough from reanalyzing original evidence. Police have re-processed vehicles and evidence from the crime scene and hope new DNA evidence and forensic testing may finally lead to solving the case. Sarah's mother, Michelle Russell, has continued to speak out and appeal for public assistance. She stated: 'Her loss has not gotten any easier and reliving the events every year is a heartbreaking way to remember her.' She has also raised significant reward money for information leading to an arrest and conviction.

Case Last Updated:

Oct 19, 2026