Human Remains Found In Utah Could Be A Woman Who Has Been Missing Since Early 2018

The human remains found Sunday night at American Fork Canyon in Utah could belong to a 24-year-old woman who has been missing since February 2018.

According to the Utah County Sheriff’s Office, a man said he discovered the remains while climbing a remote ravine in the canyon. Authorities reportedly uncovered personal items around the remains that were consistent with a missing person’s case of Jerika Binks.

Binks originally went missing after leaving a residential treatment center in American Fork, Utah. She had told her roommates she would be going for a run. She only took her phone with her, but family and police hadn’t been able to get a hold of her. No other activity on her phone had been detected, either, or activity in her bank account according to reports.

After she had been missing for a month, proof of her last known location was revealed after the public release of security camera footage. The footage was from the Timpanogos Cave National Monument in American Fork Canyon, which uses motion-activated security cameras.

The initial examination of the remains showed injuries sustained that could have been due to the steep drop from the hiking path to where the remains were found.

"It would be a strenuous hike or climb to get where the remains were found — very steep, very rocky, difficult terrain," said Sgt. Spencer Cannon, a public information officer for the Utah County Sheriff’s Office.

Cannon said it was "entirely possible" that person had some type of accident.

He also clarified that while it doesn’t appear to involve any foul play, any conclusions would have to wait for a thorough examination.