Crime & Safety

Body of Missing Hiker Found in Inyo National Forest

Montrose and Sierra Madre search experts helped find the body of Thomas Heng, the 31-year-old missing hiker from San Rafael.

The body of Thomas Heng, 31, was found and positively identified Wednesday in the Inyo National Forest, according to the National Park Service

The San Rafael resident was last seen at approximately 13,000 feet near Mount Langley at 1 p.m. Sunday, according to Sequoia Kings Canyon National Park. The Inyo County Sheriff’s Department and Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks conducted a search-and-rescue operation in and around Mount Langley—about 14,042 feet—in the Inyo National Forest and Sequoia National Park. 

The Inyo County Sheriff's Department notified Sequoia and Kings National Park of the missing hiker about 5:45 p.m. Monday. By noon Tuesday, Sequoia and Kings National Parks' had 20 people searching and one helicopter. An additional helicopter and related staff from Yosemite National Park also joined the search. 

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Trained specialists from Montrose and Sierra Madre search and rescue teams were part of the search, in addition to: China Lake Mountain Rescue Group, Friends of Yosemite Search and Rescue, Inyo National Forest, Manzanar National Historic Site, Tulare County Sheriff’s Department and Yosemite National Park. 

The incident remains under investigation, officials said. 

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