OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK — Searchers aided by specially trained dogs have found the body of a Port Angeles man missing in the Elwha Valley since Christmas Eve.
Aided by several dog teams, the searchers located and recovered the body of James Thomas Griffin, 60, in rugged terrain near the Boulder Creek trailhead, Olympic National Park announced this morning.
Griffin’s remains were found in a very steep, rugged and densely forested area about a third of mile and nearly 1,000 vertical feet above the Boulder Creek trail. An investigation at and around the scene showed no indications of foul play or wildlife interactions.
Griffin was last seen by other hikers about 4 p.m. Monday, Dec. 22, at Olympic Hot Springs. He was reported missing on Dec. 24 when he did not arrive at a Christmas Eve dinner as planned.
Griffin’s daypack was found Dec. 25 about a half-mile from the trailhead. Despite a five-day search involving more than 20 people and several search dog teams, no other clues were located until Sunday.
Griffin’s body was transferred to a funeral home.
Six dog teams from the all-volunteer group German Shepherd Search Dogs searched on Saturday; two teams searched Sunday, a park news release reported.
