Recovery of Missing Man’s Body at Colorado’s Black Canyon

Authorities discovered the body of a missing man at the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park in Colorado on October 28. The Montrose County Coroner’s Office later identified the man as John N. Countryman.

Deputies began their investigation following the report of an abandoned vehicle near mile marker 10 on the South Rim of the park. Personal belongings found near Devil’s Lookout were taken as evidence. These discoveries prompted authorities to deploy a drone to search for a potential missing person linked to the car.

The initial drone search faced challenges due to fading daylight. However, the following day, a deputy’s drone detected the presence of human remains at the canyon floor. The body was then recovered and transferred to the Montrose County Coroner’s Office, where Countryman’s identity was confirmed. The cause and manner of death remain under investigation.

“The Black Canyon is described by the National Park Service as ‘incredibly deep and sheer, with plunging cliffs, soaring buttresses, and a thundering river.’ The depths reach 1,820 feet at Chasm View and 2,722 feet at Warner Point.”

Miles of rugged trails, including a .3-mile walk to Devil’s Lookout, characterize the park. This incident follows the recent deaths of college students Kaden Matsuda and Jackson Donlon on West Apostle Mountain due to equipment failure.