Skeletal remains found in the backcountry of Olympic National Park in Washington state are believed to be those of a 22-year-old man who went missing in April 2017.

Park staff said Monday that on Friday a field crew of park employees and volunteers found abandoned outdoor recreation equipment and clothing in a very remote area in the park's Daniel J. Evans Wilderness. The clothing and equipment matched the description of items related to missing 22-year old Jacob Gray of Port Townsend, Washington, they said.

Early Saturday morning, a team of park law enforcement rangers was sent to search of the area. During that search, the team found additional clothing and human skeletal remains. The remains were transferred to the local medical examiner’s office for positive identification. 

According to the Park Service, Gray left home on the evening of April 5, 2017. On the afternoon of April 6, Gray’s unattended bicycle and gear were found on the side of Sol Duc Road. Law enforcement rangers conducted a hasty search of the area, which included the Sol Duc River bank. Larger interagency search efforts focused on the river corridor turned up no indication of his whereabouts.