Search ends as body of missing Salt Lake City woman found at Strawberry Reservoir

Strawberry Reservoir. File photo: Flickr/Bureau of Reclamation

WASATCH COUNTY, Utah, Nov. 18, 2018 (Gephardt Daily) — Search crews have found the body of Chenoa L. Plank, a Salt Lake City woman who had been missing for more than a week after she and a friend went camping near Strawberry Reservoir.

Her body was found Sunday afternoon, according to a Facebook post from the Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office.

It was announced Saturday that the body of Benjamin Magalis, 24, from Goodhue, Minnesota, had been located.

Both Plank, 26, and Magalis worked at a local ski resort and had gone camping last Sunday, Nov. 11, near Strawberry Reservoir.

“Chenoa Plank and Benjamin Magalis were fishing near Chicken Creek West at Strawberry Reservoir on Monday, Nov. 12th, when their canoe capsized,” the sheriff’s office said in the Sunday night post.

The temperature of the water was about 38 degrees Fahrenheit, the post said.

It is now up to the State Medical Examiner to determine the official cause of death, “although it appears they may have drowned,” WCSO said.

Chenoa Plank’s dog, Hazel, was wearing a life jacket and was found on an island in the reservoir by Wasatch County Search and Rescue. The dog has been reunited with the family.

Crews had been searching the area of the reservoir since Thursday night, when Plank’s father called Wasatch County 911 Center to report his daughter missing after she didn’t return home when expected.

On Sunday night, the sheriff’s office posted on Facebook:

We spent several days with the Plank and Magalis families and have greatly appreciated their strength and kindness. We mourn with them at this difficult time and are grateful for all of those that have volunteered and helped so generously.

We are especially grateful for our Search and Rescue members, deputies, dispatchers, and EMS crew and their families. We also want to thank Summit and Utah Counties, the State DPS Dive Team, the Utah State Parks, U.S. Forest Service, and Great Western K9 for their search teams and equipment.

Special thanks to Mohamed Mohamed at Mountainland One Stop, Lee’s, and Domino’s in Heber City and any other businesses for everything they have done to help the search crews this week.

1 COMMENT

  1. I am so very saddened to read this. I was hoping and praying they would both be found alive. My heartfelt condolences to both families as they lay their children to rest.

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