Death in Yellowstone
Jeff Murphy
JACKSON HOLE, WY – The body of missing hiker Jeff Murphy was located yesterday by search crews in Yellowstone National Park, according to a press release issued by park officials.
Murphy, 53, of Batavia, Illinois, appears to have suffered a fatal fall on Turkey Pen Peak. At about 7,000 feet, the summit of Turkey Pen Peak is craggy and dotted with coniferous trees.
The summit of Turkey Pen Peak. (summitpost.org)
Murphy went for a day hike on the Rescue Creek trail on June 7. The trailhead is about two and a half miles from the base of Turkey Pen Peak. After Murphy failed to check in with his wife, she called park officials the next morning and a search was launched.
“All of us at Yellowstone extend our sympathy to the Murphy family for their tragic loss,” Yellowstone Superintendent Dan Wenk said.
The two-day search for Murphy included eight hiking teams, five dog teams, four horse teams, and a helicopter.
The Rescue Creek trail is now open. But park officials say visitors should anticipate temporary closures in the area until the investigation is complete.
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