Body of Missing Hiker Found in Zion National Park

Date: July 22, 2010
Contact: Ron Terry, 423-772-0160

Searchers found the body of a missing hiker in Zion National Park at approximately 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 22. A ground search team located the body of Corey Buxton, 17, of Las Vegas, Nevada near the Hop Valley Trail in the Kolob Terrace section of the park.

On Wednesday afternoon, June 21, Buxton was reported missing from his Boy Scout group on a the second day of a four day backpacking trip in the park. The National Park Service launched search efforts with a helicopter and ground search teams on Wednesday afternoon. The hiker was not located Wednesday evening and the search effort continued on Thursday with search dog teams from Zion Canine Search and Rescue, ground search teams, and a helicopter.

Two search dogs alerted on a ravine east of the Hop Valley Trail. A ground search team entered the brushy ravine and located the body about 400 feet from the trail.

The Washington County Sheriff's Office is conducting an investigation in cooperation with the National Park Service. This is standard procedure in the case of fatalities in Zion National Park.  The cause of death will be determined by the Washington County Medical Examiner.