The body of a 26-year-old man missing since last October 14th was found in the Gila Wilderness near the east boundary of the park’s Cliff Dwellings Unit on Friday, December 21st. When a hiker discovered and turned in a piece of the missing man’s driver’s license and a piece of notepaper with addresses he’d visited, investigators were able to concentrate on an area not previously searched by foot and soon found the victim’s remains. In late October and early November, park and Forest Service staff assisted the New Mexico State Police with horse, foot and helicopter searches of the wilderness, which were then followed by three days of searches with cadaver dogs. Given the lack of information on where the young man had gone and the rugged terrain, active searching was halted in mid-November. The area in which he disappeared consists of over 200 square miles of extremely rugged terrain with narrow, deep canyons and heavy timber. On December 22nd, NPS staff assisted state police officers and USFS personnel in evacuating the body.
