THE research for Ray and Maranda Ankofski, a couple from Pearland, Texas, who went missing In Moabin Utah, has moved to a priority recovery operation, authorities said. This story also trended on Google Trends.
The Ankofskis disappeared on June 21 after hiking the Steel Bender off-road trail, a route they were familiar with from having visited it twice before.
The alarm was triggered when their off-road utility vehicle (Commercial vehicle) was discovered overturned, abandoned and badly damaged. Concerns intensified when Ray and Maranda failed to return as expected, sparking a massive search operation that garnered considerable attention on Google Trends.
“The decision to transition from a search and rescue mission to a recovery mission was made based on the evidence at the scene,” Grand County Sheriff’s Office officials said, expressing gratitude to the many volunteers and community members who assisted in the search.
The Ankofskis disappeared on June 21 after hiking the Steel Bender off-road trail, a route they were familiar with from having visited it twice before.
The alarm was triggered when their off-road utility vehicle (Commercial vehicle) was discovered overturned, abandoned and badly damaged. Concerns intensified when Ray and Maranda failed to return as expected, sparking a massive search operation that garnered considerable attention on Google Trends.
“The decision to transition from a search and rescue mission to a recovery mission was made based on the evidence at the scene,” Grand County Sheriff’s Office officials said, expressing gratitude to the many volunteers and community members who assisted in the search.
Despite extensive efforts using advanced search techniques and resources, including the discovery of items such as the couple’s cooler and Ray’s rain jacket, Ray and Maranda Ankofski remain missing.
The couple’s family described them as outdoor enthusiasts with extensive experience hiking, camping and UTV driving.
