News Release

Visitor Fatality from Apparent Suicide

Date: March 21, 2024
Contact: Tom VandenBerg, 432-477-1107

BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK, TX – At approximately 3:00 PM on Wednesday, March 20, the Big Bend National Park Communication Center received report of an injured visitor along the Grapevine Hills Road. Park Rangers quickly responded and located the body of an 80-year-old man from Alpine, TX. The scene was investigated by the National Park Service, FBI, and Texas Rangers and the cause of death was determined to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The body was transported to Alpine Memorial Funeral Home on Wednesday evening. No further information is available at this time.

“The entire park community is saddened by this loss,” said Deputy Superintendent Rick Gupman. “Our sympathy goes out to the individual’s family and friends.”

If you or a loved one has thoughts of suicide, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255). The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.