Missing hunter found deceased

Neil Durco. Photo courtesy of the Alaska State Troopers.
Neil Durco. Photo courtesy of the Alaska State Troopers.

A hunter missing for six days has been found deceased, the Alaska State Troopers have announced.

At 1:25 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 13, the body of 33-year-old Neil Durco was found by an Alaska Army National Guard medevac unit at the bottom of a steep chute, according to an Alaska State Troopers dispatch. Durco was apparently found partway up a mountain, said Ken Marsh, information officer for the Alaska State Troopers. 

The Alaska State Troopers appreciate the support they’ve received from the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center, the National Guard, the Coast Guard and the community in general, Marsh said.

Durco was last seen at McKinley Lake Cabin at 2:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 7. Searches began after Durco failed to return on the evening of Tuesday, Oct. 8. At the time, it was thought that Durco may have been heading for Pyramid Peak, a summit near Saddlebag Glacier. It has not yet been announced whether this is the area in which Durco was discovered.


Read previous Cordova Times coverage:

Oct. 13, 2019: Despite robust search, no sign of missing hunter
Oct 10, 2019: Search narrows for missing hunter
Oct 10, 2019: Air search underway for missing hunter

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