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Body Of Hiker Missing In Olympic National Park Found

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Published Date

January 26, 2015

The body of a Washington man who went missing in Olympic National Park just before Christmas has been found and recovered.

Searchers, aided by several dog teams, on Sunday found the body of James Thomas Griffin, 60, in very rugged terrain near the Boulder Creek trailhead, park officials reported Monday. Griffin, of Port Angeles, Washington, was the subject of an intensive five-day search that began on Christmas Eve.

The man's remains were found by a search dog team in a very steep and densely forested area about a third-of-a-mile and nearly 1,000 vertical feet above the trail. An investigation at and around the scene showed no indications of foul play or wildlife interactions.

Griffin was last seen by other hikers about 4 p.m. Monday, December 22, at Olympic Hot Springs. He was reported missing on December 24 when he did not arrive at a Christmas Eve dinner as planned. The man's daypack was found on December 25 about a half-mile from the trailhead. 

Griffin’s body was transferred to a funeral home late Sunday.

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