A Lander man missing for nearly three months has presumably been found dead near where his vehicle was abandoned three months ago along Interstate 80 in northern Utah, authorities announced Friday.
The remains of who investigators have preliminarily determined to be Brent Layman, 60, were discovered near the Echo Port of Entry on Wednesday near where his vehicle had been found in early December, said Skyler Talbot with the Summit County Sheriff’s Office in Utah.
Though Layman’s family has been notified of his death, the agency said the Utah Medical Examiner’s Office will ultimately confirm his identity.
Likewise, his cause of death is still unknown pending an autopsy.
“At this time, investigators have found no obvious signs of trauma or leads that may explain the circumstances surrounding the death,” Talbot said. “This case remains active, pending a report from the Utah Office of the Medical Examiner, who will determine the cause and manner of death.”
A passing motorist found Layman’s body, said Detective Jesse Mattocks with the Lander Police Department.
The body had been concealed under snow and recently discovered due to the receding snow levels, he said.
Mattocks added that no foul play is suspected.
‘We Miss Him’
Layman’s daughter, Tenaya, said the family is still processing the news.
“We miss him, and he will always be in our hearts,” she told Cowboy State Daily on Friday. “I hope he is reunited with my mom as well as his parents. Until we meet again, love you, dad.”
She also expressed her appreciation to everyone on behalf of her family who shared posts and reached out to them while he was missing.
“The family truly appreciates that and felt the love,” she said.
Layman’s family reported him missing Dec. 18 when he stopped communicating with them and was not at his apartment as planned when his daughter came to pick him up at his apartment for a family gathering in Utah.
His family was further confounded when they later learned that his vehicle had been found by the Summit County, Utah, Sheriff’s Office on Dec. 13. All of the windows had been rolled down with Layman’s wallet and cellphone still inside.
The local sheriff’s office impounded the car thinking it was abandoned.
Despite several foot and aerial drone searches, Utah deputies and search and rescue personnel could not locate him at the time.
The Lander Police Department also issued a statement Friday saying that layman has been located and no further assistance is needed.
Jen Kocher can be reached at jen@cowboystatedaily.com.
