The human body discovered this week in the Grand Canyon has been identified as Timothy L. Smith, the last missing person following the deadly flood in late August.
Flood Death Toll Reaches Three
On Thursday, Smith's wife announced that this discovery has raised the death toll from the flood that devastated the Phantom Ranch area at the bottom of the canyon to three. Timothy L. Smith, 53, was a pilot from Star Valley in Wyoming. His body was found last Monday near the Crystal Falls in the Colorado River that runs through the canyon.
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Multi-Day Trip and Flood Occurrence
The bodies of his two companions, Brent Rosenkranz, 42, and John Gisty, 46, both from Granbury, Texas, had been found earlier. Smith grew up in Granbury and lived with his wife in Star Valley Ranch, located about 64 kilometers southwest of Jackson. He, Rosenkranz, and Gisty were on a multi-day trip for hiking, fishing, and camping when the flood suddenly struck the Grand Canyon.
During the two days of rainfall, searchers used night vision equipment and other devices to locate individuals in need of rescue. They relied on the Grand Canyon National Park's permit system and checked vehicle license plates to identify those still missing. More than 80 people were rescued, and ultimately only Smith remained missing.
Smith's wife, Keri, had expressed gratitude for the support and prayers of the public in a Facebook video. On Tuesday, she wrote on Facebook that their family was aware of the discovery of a body and asked others to pray with them. Keri Smith confirmed on Thursday in a Facebook post that the identified body belonged to her husband.
She wrote: "My family has been waiting for the past three weeks... waiting and hoping that Tim (Dad) would come home, and waiting and wondering if the body found belonged to Tim. There is no more waiting now, Tim was found two days ago by the Grand Canyon National Park rangers. Not in the way we had hoped, but we know he was doing something he loved with John and Brent."
The National Park Service and the Department of the Interior did not immediately respond to email requests for comment on Thursday. These agencies have not publicly identified the bodies found this week.
The flood began on August 29 during the summer rainy season. The rainfall intensified in an area of burn scar in the northern canyon that remained after a lightning-caused fire in July 2025. This fire destroyed the historic Grand Canyon lodge, cabins, and other structures.
The flood damaged a pipeline that supplies water to millions of tourists and residents. The water shortage led to the suspension of all overnight stays until the pipeline could be repaired. National Park Service officials recently announced that they expect reliable water supply in the canyon to be restored within weeks—not months.
Many hiking trails and camping areas remain closed, and water in the inner canyon has been cut off. Officials warned that hikers should carry their own water or water purification devices.
When a storm hit the canyon on Wednesday, another flood occurred along the Bright Angel and Colorado Rivers. Park officials reported no injuries. They stated that efforts to reduce the number of staff in the canyon before the storm, as well as flood warnings, helped in the rescue of staff.
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Source: abcnews.com
