Yosemite National Park rangers found the body of James Michael Millett, Jr. on Sept. 1, 2015, two days after discovering a car that had been left at a popular trailhead parking lot for an extended period of time.
Late in the evening on Aug. 30, rangers noticed the car and began investigating to determine if the vehicle belonged to someone on an extended backpacking trip or was abandoned. After ruling out those possibilities, an aerial search for the missing man began on the morning of August 31. Authorities initially searched a large area of rugged terrain leading toward Yosemite Falls, a destination indicated in a note left in the car. Additional information narrowed the search area on the second day, which made it possible for rangers to locate the body of the missing man. The body was airlifted by helicopter from the North Dome area.
Millet, an experienced traveler, was currently living in the Bay Area. An investigation into his death is ongoing.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
