The Four-day multi-agency search for missing 25-year old Tim Ritarita of Sevier County, Utah concluded when his body was located at a depth of 143 feet in the Kane County, Utah portion of Wahweap Bay in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue located Ritarita on April 17 at 10:25 a.m. MST using a side-scan sonar. He was brought to the surface by the National Park Service Underwater Recovery Unit using an underwater Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV). The body was turned over to Kane County Sheriff’s Office Medical Investigator, and will be transported to the Utah State Medical Examiner.
On April 14, 2016, two Sevier County residents were boating in Lake Powell. They briefly stopped in Wahweap Bay. For unknown reasons, Tim Ritarita fell from the boat and into the water. His companion attempted to circle and continued to throw life jackets and floatation devices toward him. After several minutes, Tim disappeared from view. His companion called 9-1-1. National Park Service and Classic Life Guard Aviation arrived on scenewithin 17 minutes.
Initial search efforts were conducted by the National Park Service, Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and Classic Life Guard Aviation. The search continued into the night and the following day with temporary interruptions due to hazardous weather conditions. Due to water depths averaging 127 feet in the search area, Wasatch County Utah Sheriff’s Office and Utah Department of Public Safety Dive Team joined the search effort on April 16, and used side-scan sonar to search the area. Coconino County Sheriffs’ Office, Utah State Parks and the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary provided additional support. “The search was brought to resolution, thanks to support and collaboration from all agencies involved," said Acting Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Superintendent Billy Shott.
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Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
