Hiker missing 3 weeks in Yosemite National Park found dead

Yosemite National Park rangers found the body of missing hiker James Michael Millett Jr., 39, on Tuesday above Yosemite Valley, the park announced Wednesday morning.

The park says an investigation is ongoing.

Thursday, park spokeswoman Jodi Bailey released more details about the case, saying Millett’s body was found two days after rangers started an investigation into a car left at a Tioga Road trailhead parking lot for an extended period of time.

According to Bailey, late on Aug. 30, rangers noticed the car and began investigating to determine if the vehicle belonged to someone on an extended backpacking trip or was abandoned. After ruling out those possibilities, an aerial search for the missing man began on the morning of Aug. 31. Authorities initially searched a large area of rugged terrain leading toward Yosemite Falls, a destination indicated in a note left in the car. Additional information narrowed the search area on the second day, when Millett’s body was found and airlifted by helicopter from the North Dome area.

Bailey described Millet as an experienced traveler who was living in the Bay Area. On Wednesday, the park said he had left for his hike on Aug. 11.

This story was originally published September 2, 2015 at 10:43 AM with the headline "Hiker missing 3 weeks in Yosemite National Park found dead."