Congressman Raul Grijalva announced on Friday the death of one of his staff members, Alexander Lofgren, who had gone missing while on a camping trip in Death Valley National Park.
Words cannot begin to describe how heartbroken I am over the death of Alex Lofgren, a dedicated caseworker in my district office.
Alex will forever be a part of our family, and my heart is with his family, his loving partner Emily, and his colleagues who mourn him today. pic.twitter.com/Fyi7zWNYiK
— Raul M. Grijalva (@RepRaulGrijalva) April 9, 2021
According to the Inyo County Sheriff’s Office, Lofgren, age 32, and 27 year-old Emily Henkel, both from Tucson, were reported missing on April 6.
The couple was located on Thursday April 8, shortly after noon through aerial reconnaissance in a very remote area of Death Valley National Park near Willlow Creek on a very steep ledge. Lofgren was found deceased and Henkel was found alive. She was flown out for medical treatment by Lemoore Naval Air Station.
The couple’s missing white Subaru was located on Thursday by Death Valley National Park at approximately 11:00 a.m. off of Gold Valley Road. A note was located in the vehicle that read, “Two flat tires, headed to Mormon Point, have three days’ worth of water.”
The Sheriff’s Office said the note “proved to be a crucial tip in directing search efforts” as the “location of the vehicle was not included in Lofgren’s backcountry itinerary.”