A 63-year-old experienced hiker was found dead Saturday near Hermit Falls after he went missing in the Chantry Flats area of the Los Angeles National Forest overnight Thursday, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
John King of La Puente, was reported missing about 11:30 p.m. Thursday, said a deputy at the sheriff's Temple Station.
King was found dead and partially submerged in water, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Homicide Division. Sheriffs believe he slipped about 40 feet down a drop off at what appeared to be the end of a hiking trail, but were not sure if a fall had killed him.
No foul play was suspected, authorities said.
King left his home in La Puente Thursday to go hiking in Chantry Flats, and did not return, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. His car was located in the Chantry Flats parking area.
The Sierra Madre Search And Rescue Team was involved in the search, along with deputies from the Temple Station.
According to the man's family, King was an experienced hiker in good shape, and was familiar with the trails out of Chantry Flat, said Dep. William Harrington of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
Authorities hoped they could locate him before it rained in the area Friday.
Local
Get Los Angeles's latest local news on crime, entertainment, weather, schools, COVID, cost of living and more. Here's your go-to source for today's LA news.
King was described by authorities as being 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighing 220 pounds, with brown eyes, short gray hair and a gray beard.
Anyone with information about King's disappearance was encouraged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500.
Patrick Healy and Rick Montanez contributed to this report.
