Yellowstone Notebook
Search resumed today for 27-year-old man, missing for 10 days - NPS
Search resumed today for 27-year-old man, missing for 10 days
National park shifts tactics in search operations
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Contact: Denise Germann, 307.739.3393
Contact: C.J. Adams, 307.739.3431
MOOSE, WY— Search operations continued today in Grand Teton National Park for 27-year-old Cian McLaughlin, who has been missing for ten days. The last reported sighting of McLaughlin was on Tuesday, June 8. After days of extensive ground and aerial efforts, the search for McLaughlin will shift tactics to a continuous, but limited mode. New clues will be investigated as they come forward. Park staff will continue to patrol the backcountry and search for signs of McLaughlin’s whereabouts.Over the course of the last six days, up to 70 park staff per day have conducted search operations in the Teton backcountry. These operations involved multiple search and rescue dog teams. Some of these efforts included navigating steep, technical terrain in hazardous areas. Many of these areas require rope, an ice axe, crampons, and other protective equipment to access.
Over 45 helicopter search missions have been conducted. The park used Teton County Search and Rescue’s aerial RECCO rescue technology, which assists in search and rescue incidents sending a signal which reflects off RECCO chips or clothing and sometimes cellphones. The Civil Air Patrol conducted aerial operations using Forward Looking Infrared Technology (FLIR), which uses thermal imaging cameras to detect heat sources.
The investigation team spoke with over 140 people with tips and information about McLaughlin. The last reported sighting of a man fitting McLaughlin’s description was on the Garnet Canyon Trail, a short distance above the Garnet Canyon/Surprise Lake junction around 3:45 p.m. on Tuesday, June 8.
Updated missing person posters with McLaughlin’s picture and description will be posted throughout the park and overnight backcountry users will be advised to look for clues.
Anyone with information regarding McLaughlin’s whereabouts is urged to contact the National Park Service Investigative Services Branch:
Call or text the tip line: 888-653-0009
Online: www.nps.gov/ISB and click “Submit a Tip”
Email: e-mail us
The park does not expect to issue another media release unless something significant changes with this case.
History
June 17, 2021, 6 p.m. Search operations continued today in Grand Teton National Park for 27-year-old Cian McLaughlin, who has been missing for nine days.
Based on information provided by a local climbing guide yesterday evening, operations were adjusted to focus efforts on the Garnet Canyon area today. The last reported sighting of a man fitting McLaughlin’s description was on the Garnet Canyon Trail, a short distance above the Garnet Canyon/Surprise Lake junction around 3:45 p.m. on Tuesday, June 8.
Today, park staff extensively searched the Garnet Canyon area. Operations included over sixty park staff conducting ground search efforts. Teams were flown into the Garnet Canyon area this morning by the Teton Interagency Helicopter. Efforts included five search and rescue dog teams and members of Teton County Search and Rescue. Search operations will continue tomorrow.
As McLaughlin’s plans were unknown, anyone who has been traveling in the Teton backcountry since Tuesday, June 8, may have seen him. Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts is asked to contact the National Park Service Investigative Services Branch:
Call or text the tip line: 888-653-0009
Online: www.nps.gov/ISB and click “Submit a Tip”
Email: e-mail us
June 16, 2021, 8 p.m. Search efforts continued today in Grand Teton National Park for 27-year-old Cian McLaughlin, who has now been missing for eight days.
Today, rangers received a report of a June 8 sighting of a man fitting McLaughlin’s description by a local climbing guide. The guide reported seeing the man hiking up the Garnet Canyon trail, above the Garnet Canyon/Surprise Lake junction around 3:45 p.m. on Tuesday, June 8. He described him as a solo hiker who had shoulder-length hair and was wearing round glasses, a white shirt, shorts, and a hat. The guide also reported the man as having tattoos on his arms and carrying a bottle of water.
Based on this new information, search operations will be adjusted tomorrow to focus more on Garnet Canyon.
Today’s search included over fifty park staff conducting ground search efforts in high probability areas of the backcountry. Six search and rescue dog teams, members of Teton County Search and Rescue, and the Teton Interagency Helicopter have also been involved.
As McLaughlin’s plans were unclear, anyone who has been traveling in the Teton backcountry since Tuesday, June 8, may have seen him. Anyone with information regarding McLaughlin’s whereabouts is asked to contact the National Park Service Investigative Services Branch:
Call or text the tip line: 888-653-0009
Online: www.nps.gov/ISB and click “Submit a Tip”
Email: e-mail us
June 15, 2021, 5 p.m. Search operations continued into the
third day for missing 27-year-old man Cian McLaughlin in Grand Teton
National Park. McLaughlin was last seen by a friend around 2:30 p.m. on
Tuesday, June 8, approximately a half mile from the Lupine Meadows
Trailhead, hiking to an unknown destination.
Rangers received additional tips today about potential sightings of
McLaughlin on the switchbacks below the Garnet Canyon/Surprise Lake
junction and in the vicinity of Delta Lake on Tuesday, June 8.
As McLaughlin’s plans were unclear, anyone who has been traveling in the
Teton backcountry since Tuesday, June 8, may have seen him and are
encouraged to contact the National Park Service Investigative Services
Branch.
Security cameras show that McLaughlin entered the park via the Moose
Entrance Station on Tuesday, June 8 at 2:15 p.m. He was wearing a white
short-sleeve shirt and a red watch while in his vehicle. In addition, it
is believed he was wearing shorts, a bucket hat, and round sunglasses.
McLaughlin also has a noticeable forearm tattoo on his left arm. The
missing person flyer has been updated.
Today’s search included over forty park staff conducting ground search
efforts in high probability areas of the backcountry. Five search and
rescue dog teams, members of Teton County Search and Rescue, and the
Teton Interagency Helicopter have also been involved. In addition, the
Civil Air Patrol flew a search this morning using Forward Looking
Infrared, a thermographic camera that senses infrared radiation. Search
operations will continue tomorrow.
Anyone with information regarding McLaughlin’s whereabouts is asked to
contact the National Park Service Investigative Services Branch:
Call or text the tip line: 888-653-0009
Online: www.nps.gov/ISB and click “Submit a Tip”
Email: e-mail us
June 14, 2021, 12 p.m. Rangers received updated information from
the tip line this morning about missing 27-year-old, Cian McLaughlin.
McLaughlin was last seen around 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 8,
approximately a half mile from the Lupine Meadows Trailhead, hiking to
an unknown destination.
McLaughlin was last seen wearing a cutoff tank top and shorts (unknown
color), a bucket hat, and round sunglasses. He was not wearing a
backpack. McLaughlin is described as six feet tall and 180 pounds. He
has brown, collar length hair and brown eyes. He is said to be thin and
has an Irish accent. An updated missing person flyer is attached.
Search operations continue in Grand Teton for the second day. Over forty
park staff are conducting ground search efforts in the backcountry.
Four local search and rescue dog teams and members of Teton County
Search and Rescue are also involved. In addition, aerial reconnaissance
operations are taking place.
As McLaughlin’s destination is unclear, anyone who has been traveling in
the Teton backcountry since Tuesday, June 8, may have seen him. Anyone
with information regarding his whereabouts should contact the National
Park Service Investigative Services Branch:
Call or text the tip line: 888-653-0009
Online: www.nps.gov/ISB and click “Submit a Tip”
Email: e-mail us
June 13, 2021, 10 p.m. Grand Teton National Park requests the
public’s assistance in locating Cian McLaughlin, a 27-year-old male.
Teton Interagency Dispatch Center was notified of a missing person
report for McLaughlin on Sunday, June 13, at approximately 7 a.m. by the
Teton County Sheriff’s Office. It was believed that McLaughlin intended
to go hiking earlier in the week and failed to show up at his place of
employment on Thursday, June 10 and was reported missing late Saturday
night, June 12.
Park staff surveyed trailhead locations within the park early Sunday
morning, June 13, and located McLaughlin’s vehicle at the Lupine Meadows
Trailhead. A ground and aerial search was immediately initiated in
probable locations that he may have been hiking.
Here is what we know at this time:
- Cian McLaughlin is a 27-year-old male who was last seen in the town of Jackson, Wyoming, on Tuesday, June 8, at 2 p.m.
- The Teton County Sheriff’s Office received a missing person report late Saturday night, June 12 and contacted Grand Teton National Park early Sunday, June 13, when they had information indicating McLaughlin may be hiking in the park.
- McLaughlin failed to report to his employment in Jackson on Thursday, June 10.
- McLaughlin’s vehicle was located at Lupine Meadows Trailhead in Grand Teton National Park on Sunday morning, June 13.
- McLaughlin’s route is unknown. He could be hiking in the Garnet Canyon, Surprise, Amphitheater, Delta, or Taggart Lakes area.
- Aerial reconnaissance and ground search operations were conducted in high probability areas in the park on Sunday, June 13, in search of McLaughlin with no evidence or leads about his whereabouts. Search operations will continue early Monday morning, June 14.
Call or text the tip line: 888-653-0009
Online: www.nps.gov/ISB and click “Submit a Tip”
Email: e-mail us