GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz. (AP) ó A body recovered from the Grand Canyon on Wednesday may be a missing North Carolina man who was an East Rowan High School graduate.
Post files show that the missing man, Andrew Brunelli, graduated from East Rowan in 1984.
The search for Brunelli began on Sept. 4 after the Coconino County Sheriff’s office received word that the 43-year-old Clayton, N.C., resident had not checked out of his motel in Valle, Ariz.
Further investigation led deputies to believe that Brunelli had intended to go day hiking at the Grand Canyon.
Grand Canyon rangers searched parking areas near major trail heads on the South Rim and discovered a rental car matching the description of one Brunelli had rented.
National Park Service officials say a search helicopter spotted a body Wednesday morning in a drainage north of the Tonto Trial.
They say the male body was retrieved and transported to the county Medical Examiner’s Office for positive identification and a possible determination of the cause of death.