Body of Boy Who Vanished on Hike Found

The body of Kenny Miller, the developmentally disabled boy who disappeared last month while hiking in the Sierra, was found Saturday in the Carson Pass area west of here, authorities said.

Alpine County Deputy Sheriff Steve McEwen said the discovery was made by hikers on a ridge near Stevens Peak, just east of the Meiss Meadows area where Kenny, 12, of Oakhurst, was last seen. The discovery of the body was reported about 12:40 p.m. and confirmed by a group of deputies on horseback early Saturday evening.

The youth’s body was found in rocky terrain at about 9,800 feet elevation, McEwen said. Meiss Meadows is about 8,400 feet elevation. McEwen was unable to estimate how far the youth walked to get to the ridge.

McEwen said that a California Highway Patrol helicopter crew tried to retrieve the body earlier in the day but that the craft was unable to land because of high winds.

A search for the boy was called off Wednesday after nine days. As many as 250 people a day took part in the effort.

Miller, who had the mental abilities of a 4-year-old, became separated from his parents June 23 while on a day hike on Pacific Crest Trail.

He was last seen throwing pebbles into a small stream in the Upper Truckee River Canyon about three miles north of Carson Pass.

Deputies said the parents walked a short distance to look at a cabin and the youth was gone when they returned a few minutes later.

The case baffled authorities and their search was hampered by rocky, brush-covered terrain and unseasonable weather.