SUMMIT COUNTY, Utah — Cold and snow has ended active searching for a West Virginia hunter last seen more than a week ago in Summit County, Utah, according to local investigators.
Carl L. Crumrine, 69, was reported missing on Monday, Oct. 14, 2019 when he did not return to his hunting camp after leaving around 5:30 a.m. to hunt elk near Lyman Lake in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest.
It’s a rural area that saw heavy snow topping a foot of accumulation, cold temperatures in the teens and lower plus high winds this weekend which prompted the suspension of the active search for Crumrine on Sunday, what was the 6th day of searching.
“We have really, really poured our hearts and souls into this — a lot of time and energy and resources,” Lt. Andrew Wright with the Summit County, Utah Sheriff’s Department told MetroNews on Monday morning.
“It’s very difficult for us to get to a point where we have to pull back the resources. We want the Crumrine Family and friends and people of West Virginia to know we, here in Utah, really tried our hardest and we won’t give up.”
Earlier in the day, those with the Summit County, Utah Sheriff’s Department released the following statement:
“Sheriff Justin Martinez extends his sincere gratitude to the Summit County Utah Search and Rescue and countless other agencies and personnel who have assisted in the search for Carl Crumrine. Our hearts go out to the friends and family of Carl as we work to bring closure.”
Though active searching from the department and Summit County Search and Rescue wrapped up Sunday with the closure of the search command post, tips about Crumrine’s disappearance were still be accepted at 435-615-3600.
“We have continued what we call a limited search,” said Lt. Wright.
During the limited search, investigators will follow up on any leads.
After the weather breaks, Wright said plans called for a helicopter to return to the air again to search for Crumrine.
In the past week, “We’ve had many resources on the ground, in the air, a lot of different tools that we’ve used to try to find him and nothing has turned up, unfortunately,” said Lt. Wright who estimated hundreds of people had been part of the search for Crumrine.
KSL-TV reported Paul Crumrine, Carl Crumrine’s son, joined search efforts last week in the rural area near the Wyoming border.
“The people up there really cared about finding my dad. There were so many emotions and they’ve never met him,” he told the television station.
“If it weren’t for the bad weather, I know they would’ve kept looking. We didn’t get to cover all that we wanted.”