Third body recovered within a week

After a search lasting several days, officials have recovered the body of a missing 20-year-old woman in the Grand Canyon.

Her death was the third reported death in the national park within a week.

The body of Leticia A. Castillo of Albuquerque, New Mexico, was discovered Thursday below Twin Overlooks on Desert View Drive, Grand Canyon National Park officials posted on Facebook.

Park rangers recovered her body about 150 feet below the rim and took it to the Coconino County Coroner’s Office, where it was positively identified, park officials said.

The coroner will determine the official cause and manner of Castillo’s death.

Of the 63 national parks in the USA: These were the accidents with the highest fatality rate since 2007.

The death of a 20-year-old woman is the third in the Grand Canyon within a week

Since July 31, the Grand Canyon Search and Rescue team has recovered three bodies in the park.

“Despite adverse weather and dangerous terrain, the team took significant risks to complete these missions,” officials wrote on the Grand Canyon National Park website.

On August 1, the Grand Canyon Regional Communications Center received a report that a visitor had attempted to base jump from Yavapai Point. Park rangers arrived on the scene and found Justin Guthrie of St. Anne, Missouri, about 500 feet below the rim with his parachute deployed. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

His body was recovered and transported by helicopter to the edge and turned over to the Coconino County Coroner, who positively identified him.

A day earlier, 20-year-old Abel Joseph Mejia fell 400 feet to his death after standing too close to the crater’s rim. According to a park service press release, Mejia’s death was ruled an accident. Mejia was pronounced dead at the scene.

All three deaths were still being investigated by the park service on Monday.

Contributors: Amaris Encinas

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter at USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X at @nataliealund.

The death of a 20-year-old woman is the third in the Grand Canyon within a week

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