The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office announced Tuesday that the remains of Bluff artist and cultural figure Joseph Delmar Pachak were found on his property, ending a nearly two-week search that mobilized local officials, volunteers and friends.
Pachak, 75, was first reported missing on Nov. 27 after he failed to appear for several planned gatherings over Thanksgiving week. Deputies and search teams combed the Bluff area for days, covering canyons, washes, nearby roads and open desert. Friends said he often took spontaneous hikes, but it was unusual for him to leave without sharing plans.
According to the sheriff’s office, Pachak’s remains were recovered at about 10:44 a.m. on Dec. 9 from a pond on his property. His family has been notified.
Officials expressed gratitude to search and rescue crews, Bluff residents, state partners and the many volunteers who assisted.
The sheriff’s office extended condolences to the Pachak family and asked the public to respect their privacy as they grieve. No additional information will be released at this time; Pachak’s remains have been sent to the Utah Office of the Medical Examiner for further examination.
Pachak was widely known across Southeast Utah for his outdoor sculptures and his role in Bluff’s winter solstice celebrations, where his large, site-specific effigies were ceremonially burned each year. He moved to Bluff in the 1980s to teach art and built a home and studio that became a touchstone for many locals and visiting artists. Read more about his life here.
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