ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) New Mexico State Police say they'll review an unsuccessful search that was called off before a missing hiker died shortly after being found by hunters. The search for Stephen Lockhart of Costa Mesa, Calif., was called off Oct. 23 after several days of fruitless searching in a rugged area of eastern New Mexico's Catron County.
According to KOAT-TV, Sgt. Emmanuel Gutierrez says there were indications that Lockhart may have left the area, possibly by hitchhiking. However, the 43-year-old man was still in the area, and hunters on Oct. 27 found him lying on the ground and incoherent with a head injury. Lockhart died before responders could reach him.
The day the search ended, Lockhart's 70-year-old father fell ill and died while monitoring the search for his son.
