Grand Teton National Park rangers discovered the body of Alberto Ortega, age 55, of Winter Park, Florida on Monday morning, September 9 at Windy Point turnout on the Teton Park Road. Evidence found at the scene indicates that Ortega likely took his own life in the early morning hours with a single gunshot to his head. Rangers are conducting an investigation into what appears to be a suicide and an isolated event.
Rangers responded to an emergency call at 6:15 a.m. Monday. Passersby placed that 911 call when they came upon an unconscious man lying on the ground next to his Toyota pickup truck at the popular roadside turnout. Upon arrival, rangers found Ortega already deceased from a head wound and a semi-automatic pistol next to his body. A note left by Ortega was also located at the scene.
Suicides are an extremely rare occurrence in Grand Teton National Park.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
