Body Found In American Fork Canyon Identified As Missing Hiker
Mar 17, 2021, 3:08 PM
Crews search for a missing hiker in American Fork Canyon on March 16, 2021 (Photo: Felicia Martinez, KSL TV)
(Photo: Felicia Martinez, KSL TV)
AMERICAN FORK, Utah – Authorities said a body that was recovered from American Fork Canyon Tuesday morning has been identified as that of a missing 28-year-old hiker, who was last seen Sunday.
Robert “Bobby” Healey, of Saratoga Springs, went on a hike over the weekend, and search efforts started Monday after family members reported Healey had not returned home.
Healey’s family said he was an avid hiker but he often went with very little on his hikes, so he would not have been prepared to stay overnight.
Sgt. Spencer Cannon with the Utah County Sheriff’s Office said crews located Healey’s car in a parking lot, and Healey had previously spoken to his employer about hitting the northwest side of Mount Timpanogos.
Healey’s body was found just before 11 a.m. Tuesday. Cannon said it appeared Healey had accidentally fallen.
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 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.
