The body of a Midvale man, who had been missing for more than four weeks, was discovered Tuesday evening in Big Cottonwood Creek.
Salt Lake County search-and-rescue crews recovered the body of Roy Allen Memmott, 37, after responding to a call from a couple who had been hiking along the creek about 21/2 miles up from the mouth of the canyon. The hikers spotted what they believed to be a human hand protruding from the swollen creek around 8:10 p.m. and flagged down motorists to contact police, according to Salt Lake County Deputy Rod Norton.Police said Memmott's body had been submerged and wrapped around a tree in the middle of the creek near Storm Mountain.
Memmott's girlfriend reported to police on May 31 that he had jumped into the swift-moving stream near a trailhead below Lake Blanche about 9:45 p.m. and disappeared. Search efforts were unsuccessful until Tuesday's discovery.
Memmott's body was found approximately one mile downstream from where he jumped.
Police are still uncertain why Memmott plunged into the creek.
"Memmott intentionally jumped, but as far as we know it was not a suicide attempt - although alcohol may have been involved," Norton said. "His last words to his girlfriend were `I love you, hon.' "