Overview
- Grand Canyon National Park law enforcement rangers recovered human remains near Crystal Rapid on Monday and transferred them to the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office in Flagstaff.
- Officials have not confirmed the identity of the remains and the medical examiner is working with the National Park Service to establish who the person is and the manner and cause of death.
- The recovery is tied to the search that followed the Aug. 29 flash flood that killed two hikers and left Timothy Allen Smith missing, though authorities have not said whether the remains belong to Smith.
- Crystal Rapid lies about 10 miles downstream from Phantom Ranch in the canyon’s inner gorge, an area known for fast rapids and debris that make search and recovery operations difficult and hazardous.
- The Aug. 29 flood also destroyed footbridges, damaged trails and the Transcanyon Waterline, and park officials say forensic results and any further investigative steps will guide next actions for the ongoing response and for family notifications.