On May 18 (around 10:00pm), Inyo County Sheriff’s Dispatch received a report from a back-country skier that possible human remains were discovered in the Big Pine Creek Canyon (south-fork) area. The following day the reporting party was interviewed and aerial support was requested.
On May 20, CHP – Inland Division Air Operations arrived and transported one Inyo County Sheriff’s Deputy and one Inyo County Search and Rescue team member to the location, where they found the remains of the deceased and his dog. Located near the body was a 44-caliber revolver.
The remains were hoisted into the helicopter and transported to the Bishop Sheriff’s Posse Hut. The Inyo County Coroner took custody of the body. An autopsy, including dental record analysis, is in process in order to positively identify the remains.