MOAB, Utah – Authorities confirm human remains were found in an area of Utah where crews had previously been searching for a missing couple from Pearland.
Ray and Miranda Ankofski were last seen on June 21 while exploring the Steel Bender Trail east of Moab.
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Grand County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Mike Palmer said they originally received a report about a man and woman in the area of the trail when a flash flood began.
An initial search turned up nothing, but Palmer said search crews returned after an abandoned vehicle was found. A UTV which belonged to the Ankofski family was also found near the trail.
Authorities later found a pair of pants containing Ray Ankofski’s wallet and ID.
Palmer told NBC affiliate KSL-TV searchers were “pretty sure” the two had been caught in the flood waters.
“It looks as if they went to cross it (and the) flood was already there. They got into it and it probably tumbled that UTV down the wash I’m going to say three-quarters of a mile before it stopped,” Palmer told KSL-TV.
On June 28, the Grand County Sheriff’s Office said the search efforts had become a recovery effort.
On Monday, the sheriff’s office announced human remains had been discovered in Millcreek Canyon, the same area where searchers had been looking for the two.
The sheriff’s office said the remains have not yet been positively identified, but have been sent to the Utah Office of the Medical Examiner for identification. They will announce the identity when it is determined.