SALT LAKE CITY -- A couple from Idaho believes human remains found in Little Cottonwood Canyon could be their son.
John Ehlers was notified by Unified Police on Wednesday that there may be a connection between the remains and the case of his son, 48-year-old Corry Ehlers, who disappeared in May 2012.
“They feel pretty sure that this is Corry," Ehlers said. "They found his Costco card with his picture on it, and then they found his American Express card."
According to Unified Police, two hikers discovered a skeletal foot inside an old boot they picked up off a trail by Alta on Tuesday. When authorities arrived at the area, near Hell Gate, they found several more bones.
“It is a crime scene, and it’s a crime scene because we don’t know how these remains got there," said Det. Ken Hansen of the Unified Police Department.
On the day he disappeared, Ehlers had told his girlfriend that he was going for a hike in the canyon. A resident of Alta, Ehlers was an experienced skier and hiker who often ventured out by himself. According to his family, police found the remains in a steep area, not far from a 600 foot cliff drop.
"The terrain that he was in was no place for an amateur, and he was no amateur," Ehlers said. "Possibly, he'd got up and he slipped and come down. We don't know, and they don't know. And they don't think they ever will."
Unified police have not officially connected the remains to any specific person or case, yet. They are still awaiting DNA test results, which could take weeks.
"We've got a chance for closure now," Ehlers said. "We have hope where we didn't before."
