The Grand County Sheriff’s Office confirmed April 3 that human remains found March 26 in San Juan County, along the Colorado River, belong to Ray Ankofski — a Texas man who went missing with his wife during a flash flood in the Mill Creek area last summer.
Ankofski’s body was discovered March 26 along the Colorado River, about 37 miles from the couple’s off-highway vehicle wreckage site. His wife, Maranda Ankofski, was found in Mill Creek Canyon in July 2024.
The couple disappeared June 21, 2024, after attempting to ride the Steel Bender Trail during an intense storm. Their disappearance launched a weeks-long search involving more than 1,000 hours from search and rescue teams.
“We extend our sincere gratitude to the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office, Utah Department of Public Safety, and the Utah Office of the Medical Examiner for their invaluable assistance in the location, recovery, and identification of Raymond Ankofski,” the Grand County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release.
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The statement added that the Ankofski family has requested privacy as they grieve but expressed thanks to the community and law enforcement entities for their “unwavering persistence in bringing closure regarding their missing loved ones.”
Crews initially found the couple’s OHV wreckage along Steel Bender Trail, along with several personal belongings downstream, including Ray’s pants with his wallet and keys, and Maranda’s rain jacket. Investigators believed the couple was swept away by floodwaters after trying to cross Mill Creek.
The search was slowed by natural debris piles known as “strainers,” where logs and flood debris gathered around trees. A second storm on June 27 forced officials to briefly halt the operation for safety reasons.
Ray, 58, and Maranda, 50, were outdoor enthusiasts from Pearland, Texas. They had visited Moab several times over the years. Maranda worked as an elementary school teacher, and Ray was a used car director at a dealership.
Their daughter, Ashlynn Ankofski, described them last year on GoFundMe as “two amazing people doing something they loved.”
