A 63-year-old hiker missing in Carbon Canyon Regional Park since early Friday, Dec. 30, was found dead Saturday afternoon, Dec. 31, authorities said.
Jeffrey Morton, of Yorba Linda, left his home at 2:30 a.m. Friday to go hiking in the canyon in Brea, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department said. Morton regularly hiked the canyon and usually returned home by 6 a.m., the department reported.
The search for Morton started at 3 p.m. Friday. Rescue teams from the Brea Fire Department, Orange County Sheriff’s Department, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department and the Orange County Fire Authority searched into the night but called off the search about 1 a.m. Saturday, before resuming at 7 a.m.
Rescuers could not get help from a helicopter due to poor weather conditions. Cadaver dogs and blood hounds assisted in the search, the department reported.
Morton’s body was found about 12:20 p.m. Saturday. The cause of death is not yet known, the department said.
