A missing person sign for Jerika Binks is pictured on Sunday, Feb. 17, 2019. Binks was last seen on Feb. 18, 2018. Investigators say a hiker discovered her remains in American Fork Canyon. (Photo: KSL TV)
PROVO — The Utah County Sheriff’s Office says human remains discovered by a rock climber may be those of a woman missing from American Fork since February of 2018.
In a statement, the sheriff’s office says deputies were dispatched to talk to the rock climber, who told investigators he found human remains in American Fork Canyon, just before 8:30 PM on Sunday evening.
The man told deputies and detectives he regularly hikes in the area, but not in the particular spot where he discovered the remains, a ravine near mile marker 10 on SR-92, not far from the Swinging Bridge picnic area.
Investigators say the remains were located on the north side of the canyon, about 850 feet above the canyon floor. Because of the presence of personal items that match the description of items owned by Jerika Binks, they believe the remains are the missing woman’s.
According to the release, the remains showed evidence of an injury, but nothing to suggest foul play.
Binks was last seen on February 18, 2018, when she left home to go running. She was 24 years old.
The sheriff’s office says the human remains were taken to the Utah Medical Examiner’s office in Taylorsville to determine a cause of death as well as a positive identification.