SALT LAKE COUNTY, Utah — Authorities say a body was found Monday in the area of the Snowbird ski resort just a day after a skier was reported overdue.
The Unified Police Department said they had received a call Sunday night from a concerned relative after 60-year-old Charles Esposito of Layton had not returned from skiing at Snowbird.
Officers were able to find Esposito's vehicle in the Snowbird parking lot and used a tracker to learn his cell phone was near the resort's Gadzoom lift. Despite a search conducted by multiple agencies, officials were unable to find Esposito on Sunday evening.
"Mr. Esposito did things correctly. He did notify family where he was going. He did tell them, 'Hey, expect me at this time," said Sgt. Aymee Race with the Unified Police Department.
When teams went back out again Monday morning, they were able to locate Esposito's body in the area of the Little Cloud lift. His body was taken down the mountain where he was pronounced deceased at 10:55 a.m.
"It looked like a very unfortunate accident had occurred and our condolences do go out to the family for this. It's just a very unforeseen, sad time for them," said Race.
Esposito's death is under investigation, while his cause of death is being determined by the Utah Medical Examiner's Office.
"You're going into mountainous territory. The weather's constantly changing and snow is changing and sometimes when you're going down these mountains you have to be prepared for all elements," said Race.
The discovery comes over a week after two skiers were killed during an avalanche in the Lone Peak Summit area of the canyon. The bodies of 23-year-old Utah resident Andrew Cameron and 32-year-old Austin Mallet were found the day after a group of three were caught up in the avalanche earlier this month.
