Human remains, possibly Jerika Binks, found in American Fork Canyon
Sgt. Spencer Cannon, with the UCSO, said the place the remains were found is a drainage area, not a hiking trail.
"This is not an area where people say, 'Hey, let's go for a hike,'" Cannon said. "If it was, they would have found her sooner. The gentleman who found her hikes there frequently, but that ravine, that was the first time he had ever climbed up that drainage."
The deputies responded to the area, near the Swinging Bridge picnic site, which the press release says contained extremely rugged and steep terrain. The human remains were located on the north side of the canyon, about 850 feet above the floor of the canyon. Personal items were located with the remains that are consistent with what Binks had on her at the time of her disappearance, the press release said.
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The press release says that there is no evidence at this stage of the investigation to suggest foul play was involved in the death, though the remains showed evidence of injuries. The remains were recovered Monday morning, and have been taken to the Medical Examiner's Office in Taylorsville, where positive identification will be made.
Cannon said they hope to have a positive identification on the remains by the end of the day Tuesday, depending on the availability of personnel to examine dental records. The condition of the body was consistent with the amount of time Binks has been missing, Cannon said.
"We feel pretty strongly that this is Jerika," Cannon said. "But we don't want to say with 100 percent certainty."
Human remains, possibly Jerika Binks, found in American Fork Canyon
