A woman and a 6-year-old boy were found dead Thursday morning in Canyonlands National Park in what authorities are investigating as a murder-suicide.
Park rangers discovered the pair after responding to a report of a suspicious vehicle along Shafer Trail in the Island in the Sky District around 8:15 a.m. Thursday. The vehicle was parked in a no-camping area and appeared to have been there overnight, according to the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office.
Rangers found the child unresponsive inside the vehicle and immediately began life-saving efforts. He was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The woman was found deceased outside the vehicle in the same area.
Authorities said the boy showed no obvious signs of trauma, while the woman displayed trauma consistent with a self-inflicted injury. The sheriff’s office declined to provide specifics.
The woman’s husband, who resides in Colorado, reported her and the boy missing on Wednesday. Surveillance footage shows the pair entered the park around 4 a.m. that same day.
Their bodies have been transported to the Utah State Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsies to confirm the causes of death.
“This is a heartbreaking tragedy,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement. “Our deepest sympathies go out to the family during this incredibly difficult time.”
Authorities said there is no threat to the public. The investigation is ongoing.
If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide or self-harm, help is available 24/7. Call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988.
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