Body Of One Of Three Missing Men Found

On Friday afternoon, rangers recovered the body of 16-year-old Mark Merrill, who’d been missing since Thursday morning when he and two companions disappeared after jumping into the Colorado River. The body was found about a mile below Boat Beach, where the three were last seen. The search continues for 22-year-old Joey Merrill and 16-year-old Saif Savaya. A section of the river from Boat Beach to Hermit Rapid, a distance of about ten river miles, has been searched by boat, from the air and on foot, but no sign of them has yet been found. A search dog and its handler have also worked both banks of the river below Boat Beach, and rangers have prepared and distributed a missing person’s flyer to boaters and hikers along the river. The park is being supported by Arizona DPS, the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, Xanterra South Rim LLC, Delaware North Park Services (Canyon Village Market Place), and visitors and volunteers who have provided assistance with the search effort and support to the families of these young men.