SALT LAKE COUNTY, Oct. 11, 2017 (Gephardt Daily) — The skeletal remains found Oct. 5 in Millcreek Canyon have been confirmed to be those of Blake Richardson, who was last seen in that area on Dec. 10 of last year.
Early Wednesday evening, the Unified Police Department tweeted that bones found a week earlier are those of the missing man.
Richardson, 24, had been listed as a walk away from Salt Lake Behavioral Health. On Dec. 9, 2016, he was located by his father and returned to SLBH, then released to his family, according to information released at the time.
He left his family home to take his dog for a walk later that same day. The next day, a group of hikers in Millcreek Canyon reported seeing someone they believed to be Richardson, with a dog. The man asked for food.
Unified Police Department Canyon Rescue attempted to locate the man, but could not find him. Richardson’s dog was turned in to a shelter six days later.
The remains were found last week by hikers walking a trail with their dog. When the dog went 50 to 100 yards into the brush, toward Dog Lake, and did not return, the hikers went looking for the pet. They came across the bones shortly before sunset.
On Friday morning, Salt Lake County Search and Rescue workers located the reported bones. Evidence also was collected. The remains were sent to the Medical Examiner’s office for evaluation and identification.
Lt. Brian Lohrke told Gephardt Daily last week that after identification, the Medical Examiner’s next priorities for the remains will be determining the manner and approximate date of death.
