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DUCHESNE — Search and rescue crews found the body of a missing Vernal man who had been missing since Monday, officials confirmed.
Search teams found the body of Joseph Weyerman, 81, Saturday evening at the bottom of a cliff north of Reader Lakes after finding his sleeping bag nearby, Duchesne County Sheriff’s Office officials said in a statement.
Officials believe Weyerman died when he fell approximately 300 feet while attempting to rappel down a cliff, said Duchesne County Sheriff’s Lt. Jeremy Curry in the statement.
Weyerman had been camping near Chepeta Lake for about two weeks, according to the Duchesne County Sheriff’s Office. He was last heard from on Monday, Aug. 14, and was scheduled to return home on Wednesday evening.
Crews began searching for Weyerman on Friday after his family members reported him missing Thursday, said Duchesne County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Travis Tucker earlier on Saturday.
Crews were unable to recover Weyerman’s body Saturday due to steep, rugged terrain, officials said. A specialized team will return to the site Sunday and attempt to perform a high-angle recovery operation.
"The sheriff would like to thank everyone who helped with the search and those who will now work to recover Mr. Weyerman's body," Curry said. "He also extends his sincere condolences to Mr. Weyerman's family and friends."