Body found in Grand Canyon after man, dog disappeared on homemade raft last month

Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY
·1 min read

A body located in Arizona waters at the Grand Canyon last week appears to belong to a person who disappeared as he traveled down the Colorado River with his dog on a wooden raft, the National Park Service is reporting.

Thomas L. Robison, 58, of Santa Fe, New Mexico vanished April 21 on the reported excursion, according to the NPS, which released an update on Monday.

NPS personnel were notified on Friday of a body in the river near mile six, the agency announced. Responding rangers recovered the body and transported it to Lees Ferry, a boat launch point at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, then to the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office in Flagstaff.

"Initial information indicates the body is that of missing person Thomas L. Robison," the agency wrote in its statement.

A helicopter hovers over the Grand Canyon, where a man's body was recovered on May 10, 2024 after a man and his dog disappeared on a homemade raft along the Colorado River.
A helicopter hovers over the Grand Canyon, where a man's body was recovered on May 10, 2024 after a man and his dog disappeared on a homemade raft along the Colorado River.

Robison was reported missing last month. His vehicle, officials said, was found abandoned at Lees Ferry.

Autopsy to determine man's cause of death

The county medical examiner was working to officially identity the victim and determine their cause and manner of death, authorities said.

Thomas L. Robison.
Thomas L. Robison.

The case remained under investigation on Wednesday by NPS and local authorities.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Thomas Robison: Body found in Grand Canyon after man went missing