Utah man who disappeared feeding cows found in Las Vegas

John Kilburn was "confused and disoriented" when police found him Thursday, and a day later authorities still weren't sure how the 63-year-old Tremonton man traveled nearly 500 miles after disappearing earlier this week.

Box Elder County Sheriff's Sgt. Dale Ward reported that Kilburn was located about 9 p.m. Thursday at a Love's Travel Stop about 6 miles north of Las Vegas. Authorities began searching for Kilburn Monday after he failed to return from a Sunday night trip to feed cattle near the Malad River. By Wednesday, search and rescue crews had only located his truck, the keys still inside, in Box Elder County.

Harsh weather and unspecified medical conditions further exacerbated concerns about Kilburn's well-being.

Then Thursday, the owner of the truck stop contacted authorities and said Kilburn had appeared there. Ward described Kilburn as "confused and disoriented" and said he received an evaluation at a local hospital.

But Kilburn was fine Friday. His family was with him but requested that sheriff's deputies not disclose additional information about his condition.

According to Ward, Kilburn traveled to Las Vegas alone in a vehicle, then somehow made his way to the truck stop. At some point, Ward added, Kilburn also corresponded with someone in Las Vegas. Authorities eventually learned that Kilburn might be in Nevada and sent out missing person notices that led to his identification at the truck stop.

Still, Ward acknowledged that "plenty of questions" about Kilburn's multi-state journey remain. Ward did not have information about the vehicle Kilburn used, the motivation behind the trip, or who Kilburn may have contacted in Las Vegas. He also said Kilburn was picked up by Nevada law enforcement and Box Elder County officials were not on the scene at the time.

However, Ward said that there is no evidence of criminal activity surrounding Kilburn's disappearance and charges are not expected to be filed. As a result, Ward added, the investigation has ended and the incident will likely remain shrouded in mystery.

jdalrymple@sltrib.com

Twitter: @jimmycdii