Body Discovered In American Fork Canyon As Crews Search For Missing Hiker
Mar 16, 2021, 12:48 PM | Updated: Mar 17, 2021, 3:20 pm
AMERICAN FORK, Utah – Search and rescue crews on Tuesday discovered a body in American Fork Canyon where efforts are underway to locate a man who’s been missing since Sunday, authorities said.
Bobby Healey, of Saratoga Springs, went on a hike over the weekend and didn’t return.
Officials couldn’t immediately confirm whether the person found deceased was Healey.
“We think it’s possible that it could be him,” said Sgt. Spencer Cannon with the Utah County Sheriff’s Office. “His body will be taken to the medical examiner’s office, and positive confirmation will be there.”
He said it appears the person accidentally fell.
Healey’s car was found at the bottom of American Fork Canyon Monday by family.
Search efforts included both ground and air support. Crews started their efforts Monday night when the Utah County Sheriff’s Office was notified Healey never returned home from his hike Sunday.
Search crews said they were following footprints in the snow in an area when they spotted a bighorn sheep, which led them to the location.
“The thing that kind of clued us in too that, was kind of weird is that we never had before, is there was a bighorn sheep right by the victim,” said Brent Hutchings, Utah Department of Public Safety helicopter pilot. “We were looking at the sheep and happened to see the victim.”
“You never want it to end this way, but it still feels good that you were able to help with closure. Help the family get (their loved one) off the mountain,” said Landon Mieeauth, a tactical flight officer with DPS.
Heartbreaking to confirm a body has been found on the north west side of American Fork Canyon. A positive ID has not been made, but authorities say they found a body Where they had been searching for 28 y/o Bobby Healey and it looked like a fall had occurred. pic.twitter.com/BEqdPmFWYd
— Felicia Martinez (@FeliciaKSL) March 16, 2021
Healey’s family said he is an avid hiker but he often goes with very little on his hikes, so he would not have been prepared to stay overnight.
“It was not unexpected for him to go on a long hike like this,” Cannon said. “They did some calling to his cell phone provider, which I think was T-Mobile, and in searching some areas that would be likely for him to go. They ended up in this parking lot and found his car here.”
Air support back at it this morning in American Fork looking for missing hiker, Bobby Healey. He hasn’t been seen or heard from since Sunday around noon. @KSL5TV pic.twitter.com/PVwUDoLt3a
— Felicia Martinez (@FeliciaKSL) March 16, 2021
Cannon said Healey had previously spoken with his employer about hitting the northwest side of Mount Timpanogos.
Search and rescue officials said hikers should always plan for a hike longer than anticipated and bring proper supplies like food, warm clothing and water in case of an emergency.
