Investigators are understand how a father and son from Corpus Christi, Texas, died while hiking near Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico.
Multiple agencies spent days searching for 57-year-old Robert Stuart Pluta and his son, 21-year-old Bobby, finally locating Bobby about a mile and a half away from their vehicle. Tuesday morning crews found the body of the father about a mile away from where they found the son.
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Authorities believe heat may have been a factor but an official cause of death has not yet been determined. Temperatures at the Caverns climbed to nearly 110 degrees over the Father’s Day weekend. According to family members, the father-son-duo were avid and experienced hikers.
Carlsbad officials say they received a call from Robert’s wife on Monday telling them she hadn’t heard from the two since last Wednesday. She told officials she tried calling them numerous times over the weekend and even called the hotel they were staying at, but could not get in touch with them. Park rangers began searching the roads and eventually found their truck at the Rattlesnake Canyon Trailhead. Soon after a search and rescue was launched by State Police. source
The two had not applied for an overnight permit and were apparently just on a day’s hike.
Developing.