Park rangers recover body of 14-year-old hiker swept into Grand Canyon park creek

PHOENIX — The body of a 14-year-old boy who went missing nearly two weeks ago after he was swept down a remote creek near the Grand Canyon was found on Friday, park officials said.

The body of Jackson Standefer was found on the Colorado River by park rangers.

Standefer went missing on April 15. He went missing along with his step-grandmother, Lou-Ann Merrell, after they lost their footing as they crossed Tapeats Creek and fell into the water, before being swept away by the current.

The 62-year-old Merrell, wife of Randy Merrell, who helped found the Merrell Boot Co. in 1981, is still missing.

The pair were on a family trip with Randy and the boy’s mother in a remote area of the Arizona park.

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