Searches have come to an end after 22-year-old Garyn Troost, missing in Sterling since Sunday, was found dead.
Volunteer searchers found him around 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and reported it to the Alaska State Troopers, said Lt. Dane Gilmore of the troopers’ Soldotna post. His family has been notified. Troost was found about 100 feet off into the woods at the end of Valley View Road in Sterling, which dead ends at a power line, Gilmore said.
Any determinations as to the cause of Troost’s death will depend on an autopsy, he said.
“At this point I don’t suspect any criminal involvement,” Gilmore said.
Troost had been missing since Sunday evening when he went out for a walk around the neighborhood without his cellphone or wallet and did not return. Troopers were notified later that night, and searched for him until Tuesday, after which they suspended their active search pending leads.
Troost had moved to the area from California to live with the family of close friends in May, volunteer searchers said. His disappearance was unusual and uncharacteristic, they said.
Dozens of community volunteers also spent days searching for Troost through Wednesday. Troost’s parents had flown up from California to help look for their son.
“The community volunteer response for this was exceptional,” Gilmore said.
Investigation is being continued by troopers and the State Medical Examiner’s Office, according to an online troopers dispatch.
Reach Megan Pacer at megan.pacer@peninsulaclarion.com.
