Hiker who disappeared was found dead with his heartbroken, loyal dog still waiting by his side
By Mike-Ross
A hiker, who was missing for over two weeks, has been found dead with his loyal friend lamenting by his side. 29-year-old Oscar Alejandro Hernandez was found in a remote region of Griffith Park in Los Angeles according to NBC 4. Beside him was his emaciated pet, King, who was still alive.
Hernandez was reported missing by his family and friends in mid-March after they became concerned about his safety. He was last seen on March 16 around 2:30 a.m. near the hiking trails around the park’s merry-go-round according to the flyer distributed by the family revealed that Hernandez was last seen.
Source: LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT
It was a heartbreaking moment when authorities found the man's body, especially because his family was present at the scene. Los Angeles Sgt. Ruben Arellano told The Associated Press that the golden retriever was found beside his best friend when responders arrived. The dog was described to be both tired and hungry by rescue agents.
Meanwhile, Hernandez's cousin believes that the pooch never left the deceased's side and remained by his for the entire time. A distressing video of the dog being placed in the back of a truck the night Hernandez was found dead was shared on Twitter. Police are yet to reveal the cause of death and how his body was discovered.
A firefighter told NBC Los Angeles that the location where Hernandez's body was found was a decent hike up from the region he was last seen. The Los Angeles Fire Department, park rangers, police, and Hernandez's relatives were all present at the site where the hiker's remains were found on Thursday night.
Per PEOPLE, the Los Angeles Country Sheriff's Department Search and Rescue team used a helicopter to remove his body from the steep hillside where Hernandez was found. The circumstances surrounding his death are still being investigated.
Last month, four children lost their father who was hiking in Montana, we reported. The Park County Sheriff's Office found the remains of Craig Clouatre who is suspected to have died in a grizzly bear attack. "It is with a very heavy heart that I am writing this update. After an extensive search this morning we have located Craig. It appears he had an encounter with a grizzly and unfortunately did not survive," shared Sheriff Brad Bichler in a statement.
Source: GoFundMe
"We will continue to work through the afternoon to bring Craig home. Please keep his family and all those involved in your thoughts and prayer," he continued. Clouatre was reportedly on an off-trail hiking trip with his friend in Gallatin National Forest when the unthinkable happened. At one point, he and his friend split up temporarily but when the father-of-four did not show up at the pre-decided spot, his friend became concerned. Following a day-long hunt, his body was sadly found lifeless.
Cover image source: Los Angeles Police Department (L)Twitter Screenshot | Robert Kovacik (R)
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