Missing Man Found Dead 10 Months After Being Swept Away in Flash Flood That Also Killed His Wife
The Grand County Sheriff's Office announced on Thursday, April 3, that the remains found along the Colorado River on Wednesday, March 26, were identified as Raymond Ankofski.
Raymond and his wife Maranda were on the Steel Bender off-road trail in Grand County on June 21, 2024, the sheriff's office said in a previous news release. Concerns about their whereabouts grew when they failed to return as scheduled and their vehicle was reported abandoned.
The Grand County Sheriff's Office said in its April 3 statement that Raymond's body was located about 37 miles away from the couple's UTV wreckage site.
Related: American Sailing Couple Disappears in Caribbean. Their Yacht Is Found 80 Miles Away
At the time of their disappearance the couple from Pearland, Texas, was on their annual trip to Moab, Utah, CBS affiliate KHOU reported. The region was hit with flash flooding, resulting in dangerous trail conditions. Authorities suspected that the Ankofskis were swept away in the floodwaters.
"And it probably tumbled that UTV down the wash — I'm going to say three-quarters of a mile before it stopped," Grand County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Mike Palmer told KHOU at the time.
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Ashlynn Ankofski, the couple's daughter, launched a GoFundMe fundraiser in June to raise money for the search efforts.
'We want nothing more than to bring our parents home regardless of the outcome and unfortunately this might require the help of sources outside of law enforcement,' Ashlynn wrote.
Related: Human Remains Found in Georgia Pond Are Couple Missing Since 1980, Family Says: 'Deeply Saddened and Equally Relieved'
About a month later, the sheriff's office confirmed that remains discovered in Mill Creek Canyon were identified as Maranda's.
'At this time, the Anofski family requests privacy as they grieve for their loss,' authorities said. 'They also wish to thank the community and all law enforcement entities for their unwavering persistence in bringing them closure regarding their missing loved ones.'
Raymond, 58, and Maranda, 50, worked as a used car director for a dealership and an elementary school teacher, respectively, according to The Times-Independent.
According to a separate GoFundMe, the couple's son Ray died in a motorcycle crash on July 14, 2024.
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