Arizona congressional aide found dead, girlfriend rescued in Death Valley National Park

[Demovictory9]

Arizona congressional aide found dead, girlfriend rescued in Death Valley National Park
Officials had been looking for the couple since Tuesday after they failed to return from their camping trip on Sunday, officials said.

An aide to U.S. Rep. Raul M. Grijalva, D-Ariz., was found dead Friday in Death Valley National Park, several days after he and his girlfriend were reported missing on a camping trip, authorities said.

Inyo County Sheriff's Office rescuers reached district caseworker Alexander Lofgren, 32, and Emily Henkel, 27, about 11:40 a.m. PDT near Willow Creek inside the vast desert near the California-Nevada border, according to the agency.

They had been spotted by "aerial reconnaissance" on Thursday afternoon in "a very remote area" and "on a very steep ledge," the sheriff's office said. But "due to the extreme location," rescuers who "rappelled down" the ledge were unable to reach the couple, according to authorities.

"It is unclear at this point what condition Lofgren and Henkel" were in on Thursday, the sheriff said.

Earlier that day, the couple's white Subaru was found and a "note was located in the vehicle that read, `Two flat tires, headed to Mormon Point, have three days’ worth of water.' This note proved to be a crucial tip in directing search efforts," according to the sheriff.
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"Lofgren is believed to have jugs of water and at least one day’s worth of food as well as camping gear. Lofgren is known for camping in remote areas that are not designated campgrounds."

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/arizona-congressional-aide-found-dead-girlfriend-rescued-death-valley-national-n1263717

[Hermit-The-Prog]

1. Such a tragedy!

Wonder why they didn't just run the Subaru on the flat tires?

[PoliticAverse]

2. I'm sticking to the rule of avoiding places with "death" in the name. n/t

[brush]

3. Good point. Guess they were too far off-road to just find their way back to a road.