National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Yellowstone National Park
P.O. Box 168
Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190
Aug. 17, 2014 14-058
Al Nash
(307) 344-2015
YELL_Public_Affairs@nps.gov
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK NEWS RELEASE
Body Of Missing Georgia Man Recovered
The body of a young man missing in Yellowstone National Park since Monday evening has been recovered.
Twenty-two year old Darien Latty had gone tubing Monday with friends on the Lamar River near Tower Junction.
Shortly after reaching the point where the Lamar River flows into the Yellowstone River, his two companions managed to get to the river's edge and get out of the much faster moving water. Latty was last seen being swept downstream, separated from his inner tube and without a life jacket.
Search efforts began Monday evening. At its peak, over 50 people were involved in the search including a helicopter, three dog teams, and several groups of searchers on foot.
Late Friday searchers spotted what they thought was a submerged body pinned to a large rock in a very steep and dangerous section of the Yellowstone River, about 1/4 mile downstream from where Latty was last seen.
A swiftwater rescue team from Gallatin County, Montana, was called in Saturday to navigate the river. Using kayaks and a raft anchored to both banks of the river, they were able to dislodge and recover Latty’s body Saturday afternoon. A helicopter was utilized to remove his body from the remote area.
The coroner made a positive identification Saturday evening.
Latty, who was from northeastern Georgia community of Demorest, was in Yellowstone working as a summer seasonal employee at Roosevelt Lodge. An autopsy will be conducted to confirm the cause of death.
Floating the river is prohibited by park regulations.
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Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
