WASATCH COUNTY, Utah — A man from Millcreek who went missing this week has been found dead.
Robert "Austin" Harker, 34, left Thursday morning to go fishing on the Strawberry River southeast of Heber City. He was last heard from around 11 a.m. that same day when he called his wife, telling her that the Soldier Creek Dam Road was closed and that he was driving further east. He was expected home that afternoon.
Search crews found his pickup truck in the Lake Canyon area of Duchesne County. Helicopters spotted his body nearby the same area Saturday at approximately 11:15 a.m.
Authorities say there is no evidence of foul play. The Utah State Medical Examiner’s Office will determine the cause of Harker's death.
“Our condolences go out to the Harker and Cowart families and we appreciate their help and their strength during the search for Austin,” Duchesne County Sheriff Travis Tucker said. “We ask the public and the press to respect the family’s request for privacy during this very difficult time.”
Search and rescue crews from both Wasatch County and Duchesne County assisted in searching the area for him, along with Great Basin Canine and helicopters from the Utah Department of Public Safety and Utah National Guard. The area was closed to the public during the search.
