Hiker found dead in Utah identified as Kansas City man

The hiker found dead in central Utah has been identified as David Ross Goodrich, 52, of Kansas City, Mo.

The Wayne County Sheriff's Office identified him on Thursday.

On Tuesday, Goodrich was in Horseshoe Canyon, an extension of Canyonlands National Park, when a group of hikers came upon him at about 1 p.m., according to a county press release. He asked them for food and water, which they gave him. He also asked them to take care of his dog, which was in his car at the trailhead.

The group of hikers relayed Goodrich's request to another group of hikers, who went back to the trailhead and let the dog out of the car. As of 10:30 p.m., Goodrich still hadn't returned to the car, so the group called search and rescue crews.

A U.S. Bureau of Land Management ranger found the man's body at about 2:20 a.m. Wednesday off the trail about a mile from the trailhead. He was carrying only a camera — no food or water — and appeared to have been unprepared for the day's high temperatures, which topped 100 degrees, county officials reported. An autopsy is pending.

ncarlisle@sltrib.com

Twitter: @natecarlisle