UPDATE: Missing man’s vehicle located, search continues in freezing Utah temperatures
Jan 31, 2023, 1:52 PM | Updated: Feb 13, 2023, 2:50 pm
Austin Madsen, 32, of Mapleton, Utah. (Mapleton Police Department)
(Mapleton Police Department)
UPDATE: A man missing during a Utah cold snap has now been identified as the search for Mapleton resident Austin Madsen continues.
Search teams from Sevier, Iron, Garfield and Piute counties continue to search for Madsen, first reported missing on Jan. 29. An update from Garfield County Sheriff’s Office said his vehicle was located in the Dry Hollow area of Mount Dutton. A video that appeared to be from him, and a phone ping, were used to find a possible coordinate in Garfield County.
A trail of footprints believed to be Madsen’s, was followed through snow for “several miles,” but at approximately 2:30 a.m. Tuesday morning, the search was suspended because of “extreme weather conditions.”
The search was resumed at approximately 10:30 a.m. Tuesday with the help of several counties and a safety helicopter.
“Low temperatures and high winds made visibility for the search incredibly difficult,” a Garfield County office stated. The rough terrain and deep snow complicated travel throughout the area. This is an active search, and we will continue to provide updates as they become available,” the release stated.
Photo of 32-year-old Austin Madsen. (Mapleton Police Department)
The original story follows:
GARFIELD COUNTY, Utah — After Iron County Search and Rescue shared a video asking for help identifying the location in hopes of finding a missing man, hundreds responded.
Garfield and Piute County Sheriffs located the truck of the missing man and the search is currently active in Garfield County according to a Facebook post from Sevier County Sheriff’s Office.
The original video was posted to Facebook at 6:24 p.m. Monday, and was the last video the man sent. Officials were hoping that identifying the location of that video would lead to the man’s whereabouts.
The Sevier County Sheriff’s Office credited the public for finding the area with the vehicle.
“Thanks to some awesome SAR members we have a possible image match of the ridge line in the video and matching coordinates. The Sheriff’s Offices from Piute and Garfield Counties are working to search the area for clues.”
Despite finding the vehicle, the man has not been located.
