Thursday, March 7th the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office began a search and rescue operation that spanned over a five-day period for two lost persons east of the Hutch Mountain area. Officials say they received a 911 call from a 35-year-old Winslow woman but got disconnected. Later, a 911 call from her mother said the daughter and her friend, 38-year-old Ryan Long of Leupp left Meteor Crater that morning and the vehicle they were driving had become stuck and disabled. A Deputy called Long’s cell phone but he was uncooperative and hung up then turned off his cell phone. Cell phone activity showed the couple in the Bargaman Park area near Happy Jack, 15 miles south of Mormon Lake. Though search efforts were severely hindered by deep snow, extremely muddy conditions, the female was located alive but suffering mild hypothermia. Long’s truck was located the next day stuck in the mud on a closed forest. Two days later Long’s body was found about two miles south east of where the woman had been rescued. There are no signs of foul play and it appears Long may have died of exposure. Deputies and detectives are continuing the investigation. The Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office is conducting an autopsy to determine the cause of death.
