Iowa Hiker Found Dead At A Utah National Park

Three days of searching through a national park in Utah ended Friday after a missing Iowa student's body was found in what authorities believe was a death due to a 500-foot fall.

Jonathan Hogue, 33, was a graduate teaching assistant at the University of Iowa, earning a Ph.D. in geography. An experienced hiker, Hogue traveled to Canyonlands National Park, where he went off-trail to explore on his own.

Hogue was reported missing Tuesday, prompting a search from rescue teams.

His body was found at the Green River Outlook base, nearly 500 feet below the location of the car, according to the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office. His car had been discovered on Friday near an overlook in the park.

An investigation is still underway over Hogue's death.

The University of Iowa on Friday expressed condolences for Hogue.

According to a Facebook post by the National Parks Service (NPS), Hogue dreamed of being a park service ranger.

NPS statistics show that in 2017 there were approximately 324 searches and rescues conducted in national parks in or adjacent to the Utah area, with 35 incidents in Canyonlands National Park. There were three reported deaths in the area.