Grand Canyon National Park announced on Friday that a body recovered from the Colorado River is believed to be the body of missing 14-year-old hiker Jackson Standefer. Grand Canyon Regional Communications was notified by a commercial river trip that a body was located on the Colorado River at Mile 152. “Park rangers responded and recovered the body, which was transported to the rim by helicopter and transferred to the Coconino County Medical Examiner,” shares the announcement. 14-year-old Jackson and his grandmother, LouAnn Merrell of Vernal, were reported missing on April 15th after losing footing while crossing Tapeats Creek. A massive multi-day search and rescue operation was launched with community members even traveling from the Uintah Basin to help. LouAnn Merrell is tragically still missing. Officials are waiting for the Coconino County Medical Examiner to confirm positive identification of Jackson and the investigation into the incident by the National Park Service is ongoing.
