The body of an Arizona State University graduate student reported missing late last month was found by the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, officials said.
The National Park Service
announced Tuesday that remains were recovered on May 9 below the rim near the Verkamp’s Visitor Center, which have been positively identified as 26-year-old Sandarsh Krishna, who was reported missing on April 28.
The agency did not provide any additional details about the case, including a cause of death or whether foul play is suspected, and said the investigation remains ongoing.
On April 29, the National Park Service
asked for the public's help in locating Krishna, who was last known to be on the Rim Trail along Hermit Road near the Bright Angel Lodge between 4 p.m. on April 27 and 12 a.m. on April 28. The agency said Krishna hadn't arrived in a vehicle and may have been using a rideshare or taxi service.
In a subsequent update
shared on May 1, park officials said Krishna was believed to have been carrying a black backpack at the time of his disappearance, which was later turned in to hotel staff at the lodge around 7 a.m. on April 28.
Officials said investigators were trying to identify and speak with the man who turned the backpack in, adding that he may have information relevant to the case. The National Park Service shared an image of the person in question, noting that he was not considered a suspect in Krishna's disappearance.
Krishna, who resided in Tempe, told family members he was heading to Las Vegas and planned to stop at the Grand Canyon’s South Rim along the way, but intended to return home in time for his final exams the first week of May, Fox 10
reported.
"It's impossible to not like him," Krishna's sister-in-law, Pooja Shivananjappa, told the outlet. "He has a helping hand. As I said, he has the heart of a kid."
Before his remains were found, Krishna's brother, Adarsh Krishna, told 12News that his family was still holding out hope he was still alive.
"We don't want to believe he's hurt, we still have hopes that he's somewhere out there," he
said. "But again we need a proper closure. We don't know what exactly happened to him. he's not the kind of kid who would hurt himself."
Park officials said anyone with information about the case can call or text the National Park Service's Investigative Services Branch Tip Line at 888-653-0009.
