Missing Persons Case in Utah Seeks Information from Possible Cedar Rapids Resident
A missing person investigation in Utah has now reached Cedar Rapids, and investigators are hoping someone in the area may have information that could help locate a 71-year-old man.
Patrick J. Trier was last seen in Salina, Utah, on August 16th. The National Park Service says Trier may have been camping in Goblin Valley State Park or near Moab before arriving at the Horseshoe Canyon trailhead in Canyonlands National Park on August 17th.
His vehicle, a maroon 2004 Toyota RAV4, was found at the Horseshoe Canyon trailhead on August 23rd. Search crews have been looking for Trier in the rugged area, where temperatures have been reaching the high 90s during the day. Now, there is a possible connection to Eastern Iowa.
Canyonlands National Park rangers told Cedar Rapids police that two hikers signed into the Horseshoe Canyon trailhead logbook on August 17th. The hikers used the initials "DDR" and listed their hometown as "C.R. IA."
The National Park Service is hoping those hikers may have seen Trier or have information that could help investigators understand what happened after he arrived at the trailhead.
"C.R." is an extrememly familiar shorthand for the city, Cedar Rapids. That does not necessarily mean the hikers live within Cedar Rapids city limits. The notation in the trail register is simply "C.R. IA," and the hikers could potentially be from the Cedar Rapids area or a nearby community. The important thing is that someone who recognizes the initials "DDR" or knows of anyone locally who were hiking or visiting Canyonlands around August 17th may have information that could help locate Trier.
There is no suggestion that the two hikers did anything wrong. They may simply have been in the right place at the right time and could have encountered Trier without realizing that he would later be reported missing. They could provide a more ideal starting location for searchers.
Trier is described as approximately six feet tall with a medium build. He has long brown hair, a mustache and an atrophied right arm. He was most likely wearing jeans and a blue hat and carrying a small black-and-gray backpack.
The National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management and Wayne County Search and Rescue have been involved in the search. Horseshoe Canyon is a strenuous hike, and the difficult terrain and extreme heat have complicated search efforts.
If you were one of the hikers who signed the trail register with the initials "DDR," know who they are, or believe you may have information about Trier's movements in the area, the National Park Service is asking you to come forward. The NPS tip line is 888-653-0009.
If you are in Cedar Rapids or the surrounding area and recognize the initials, know the hikers or someone who may have been traveling through Canyonlands at the time, sharing this information could help connect investigators with a potential witness. At this point, even a small detail could be important.
An Iowan's Escape to the Rocky Mountains Pt. 1
Gallery Credit: Tom Drake
An Iowan's Escape to the Rocky Mountains Pt. 2
Gallery Credit: Tom Drake
