DEERFIELD LAKE, S.D. (AP) - Sheriff’s officials said they believe they have found the body of a missing hunter who was the subject of extensive searches in western South Dakota.
The body was found near Deerfield Lake in Pennington County Tuesday afternoon.
Based on clothing and other factors, the remains appear to be Larry Genzlinger, authorities said.
He was last seen in October 2019 while elk hunting with his nephew in the area where the body was discovered.
An individual repairing a fence called 911 after discovering the body. An autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday, according to the Rapid City Journal.
Genzlinger’s nephew called law enforcement around 7:30 p.m. the day he went missing.
“An extensive search began, but because of the high elevation and continued snow cover, the winter passed without additional searches,” the sheriff’s office said. “With the spring thaw, search efforts resumed most recently with regional canine teams.”
Out-of-state canine teams plus searchers with South Dakota-based local, state and federal agencies logged nearly 2,500 miles while looking for Genzlinger and for Serenity Dennard who was 9 when she ran away from the Black Hills Children’s Home near Rockerville in February 2019.
The most recent search was conducted May 16 through 19.
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