Body believed to be missing Omaha man recovered in Rocky Mountain National Park

ESTES PARK, Colo. – Search teams in Rocky Mountain National Park have recovered a body believed to be that of 23-year-old Blake Kieckhafer of Omaha, Nebraska, park officials announced Wednesday.

Kieckhafer was reported missing to park rangers by family on Monday, Aug. 11. He was last seen on Thursday, Aug. 7, in the Upper Beaver Meadows area around 5:20 p.m., when he was dropped off by a rideshare service. It was reported he may have boarded the rideshare service in North Platte.

Recovery efforts took place Wednesday above Emerald Lake after investigations led search teams to focus in that area. His body was recovered by helicopter and transported to a landing zone in the park before being transferred to the Larimer County Coroner’s Office, which will confirm positive identification and release additional information.

More than 80 people participated in Wednesday’s search, including members of the Rocky Mountain National Park Search and Rescue Team, Larimer County Search and Rescue Dog Teams, Arapaho Rescue Patrol, and a contracted helicopter from Trans Aero.

Park officials thanked all agencies and volunteers involved in the search and recovery efforts.