Japanese tourist missing at bottom of Grand Canyon The Associated Press
PHOENIX - An air and ground search was being conducted Friday for a Japanese tourist missing at the bottom of the Grand Canyon since Monday, authorities said. The woman, Tomomi Hanamure, 34, of Tokyo, checked in Monday at the lodge in Supai on the canyon's floor, said Coconino County Sheriff's spokesman Gerry Blair. But she apparently never slept in the room and her belongings were still there, including her passport. Sheriff's search and rescue crews were conducting the ground search.(Tucson Citizen)
Body Found at Bottom of Grand Canyon Body found at bottom of Grand Canyon; not known if it is missing Japanese tourist
PHOENIX, May. 14, 2006 (AP) Crews searching for a Japanese tourist found a body at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, but it was not known if the body was that of the visitor.
Tomomi Hanamure, 24, of Tokyo, has been missing since Monday, when she checked in at a lodge in the village of Supai on the canyon's floor. But she apparently never slept in the room and her belongings were still there Tuesday morning, said Coconino County Sheriff's spokesman Gerry Blair.
The body found Saturday was reported by a Supai resident, who notified deputies of a person floating in water just north of the village.
Blair said he did not know whether the body was male or female.
The death is considered suspicious and is being investigated by sheriff's deputies, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the FBI, he said.
Hanamure had a ticket to fly back to Tokyo from Los Angeles on Sunday, Blair said. She arrived in Los Angeles last week, rented a car and went to several tourist spots before driving to Arizona, he said. (CBS News)
Body found at bottom of Grand Canyon, not known if it is missing Japanese tourist PHOENIX -- A body was found at the bottom of the Grand Canyon as crews conducted searches for a missing Japanese tourist, but is was not known if the body was that of the visitor. The tourist, 24-year-old Tomomi Hanamure of Tokyo, has been missing since Monday, when she checked in at a lodge in the village of Supai at the canyon's bottom. But she apparently never slept in the room and her belongings, including her passport, were still there Tuesday morning, said Coconino County Sheriff's spokesman Gerry Blair. The body found Saturday afternoon was reported by a resident of Supai who notified deputies of a person floating in water just north of the village. Blair said it was not yet known if the body was that of Hanamure. He said he did not know whether the body was male or female. However, Blair said the death is considered suspicious and is being investigated by sheriff's deputies, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the FBI. The investigation may take some time, Blair said, because of the remoteness of the body's location. The hike down to the canyon's bottom is nearly 10 miles (16 kilometers) and can only be reached by foot, horseback or helicopter. Crews have to be airlifted down and many spend the night in tents. Because communications are poor, they have to use satellite phones. "It's a little bit of a challenge," Blair said. Blair said the search for Hanamure continued during daylight hours Saturday. Hanamure had a ticket to fly back to Tokyo from Los Angeles on Sunday. Hanamure arrived in Los Angeles last week, rented a car and went to several tourist spots before driving to Arizona, Blair said. (AP) May 14, 2006
Coconino County Sheriff's Office Body found at bottom of Grand Canyon, not known if it is missing Japanese tourist PHOENIX -- A body was found at the bottom of the Grand Canyon as crews conducted searches for a missing Japanese tourist, but is was not known if the body was that of the visitor. The tourist, 24-year-old Tomomi Hanamure of Tokyo, has been missing since Monday, when she checked in at a lodge in the village of Supai at the canyon's bottom. But she apparently never slept in the room and her belongings, including her passport, were still there Tuesday morning, said Coconino County Sheriff's spokesman Gerry Blair. The body found Saturday afternoon was reported by a resident of Supai who notified deputies of a person floating in water just north of the village. Blair said it was not yet known if the body was that of Hanamure. He said he did not know whether the body was male or female. However, Blair said the death is considered suspicious and is being investigated by sheriff's deputies, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the FBI. The investigation may take some time, Blair said, because of the remoteness of the body's location. The hike down to the canyon's bottom is nearly 10 miles (16 kilometers) and can only be reached by foot, horseback or helicopter. Crews have to be airlifted down and many spend the night in tents. Because communications are poor, they have to use satellite phones. "It's a little bit of a challenge," Blair said. Blair said the search for Hanamure continued during daylight hours Saturday. Hanamure had a ticket to fly back to Tokyo from Los Angeles on Sunday. Hanamure arrived in Los Angeles last week, rented a car and went to several tourist spots before driving to Arizona, Blair said. (AP) May 14, 2006
Flagstaff, AZ − The search for Tomomi Hanamure continued throughout Saturday May 13, 2006 and involved more than 40 officers, search and rescue volunteers and mounted personnel from six agencies and the Arizona Department of Public Safety Helicopter. Coconino County Sheriff’s Detectives were advised by a resident of the Havasupai Village of the presence of a person in a body of water located north of the village. At approximately 2:30 pm detectives located the body. Officers and Detectives of the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are investigating this case as a suspicious death. At this point in the investigation the body has not been identified and it is unknown if this person is Tomomi Hanamure.
Found Body Flagstaff, AZ − An autopsy was performed today, on the body of an adult female that was found in water north of the Havasupai Village on Saturday afternoon. Investigators and the Coconino County Medical Examiner have concluded that the adult female was murdered. Although a positive identification has not been made detectives believe it is the body of missing person Tomomi Hanamure. Detectives are utilizing tools such as dental records, fingerprints, DNA analysis and any available marks, scars and tattoos in an effort to confirm the identity. Deputies, agents and detectives of the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Indian Affairs are actively developing and pursuing leads that will eventually lead to the resolution of this homicide. If you have any information regarding this homicide or the disappearance of Tomomi Hanamure please call the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office at (928) 774-4523.