National Park Service officials announced the discovery of remains believed to belong to the missing Nebraska man in Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park on Thursday, Aug. 14.
The body, thought to be that of 23-year-old Blake Kieckhafe of Omaha, was found above Emerald Lake on Aug. 13 and transferred to the Larimer County Coroner’s Office for identification confirmation, according to a press release provided to USA TODAY. His family reported him missing to park rangers on Aug. 11.
“He was last seen in the Upper Beaver Meadows area of Rocky Mountain National Park on Thursday, Aug. 7 around 5:20 p.m. when he was dropped off by a ride share service,” the news release said.
Emerald Lake is about a four-hour hike 10 miles southwest of Upper Beaver Meadows road, according to Google Maps.
The Larimer County Coroner’s office said in an Aug. 14 press release that it is “working on obtaining positive and scientific identification via DNA” and that an identification will be made once next-of-kin is informed.
