At approximately 11:15 a.m. this morning, (Friday, April 27), rangers retrieved the body of a white female from below the Trail View overlook on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park.

On Thursday, April 26, at approximately 7:15 a.m., the Grand Canyon Regional Communications Center received a report from the Phoenix Police Department of a possibly suicidal woman in the park.

Rangers immediately began searching for the woman in primary visitor areas and simultaneously searching for clues to help them narrow down their search area.  Shortly before 8:00 a.m. a bus driver reported that at approximately 6:50 a.m., a woman fitting the description of the searchsubject exited the Hermit Shuttle at the Trail View overlook located about 0.75 miles west of Grand Canyon Village. At approximately 9 a.m., rangers found the woman’s vehicle parked at the Bright Angel Lodge, confirming that she was likely at the west end of the Village and search efforts were further concentrated in that area.

At approximately 10:45 a.m., weather conditions temporarily cleared enough for the park’s helicopter to be launched and join the search.  Fifteen minutes later, the helicopter reported spotting a body about 100 feet below the Trail View overlook.  Rangers were dispatched to the scene to conduct initial investigation and prepare the body for transport; but retrieval of the body had to be delayed until Friday due to poor weather conditions.

This morning, rangers retrieved the body via helicopter and transported it to the park’s Emergency Operations Center where it was transferred to the Coconino County Medical Examiner.

The woman’s name is being withheld pending positive identification and notification of next of kin.

An investigation into the incident is being conducted by the National Park Service with the assistance of the Coconino County Medical Examiner.