DENVER
A 24-year-old female intern with the Colorado Geological Survey radioed for help before she went missing and a man found camping in the area was arrested after her body was found, officials said Wednesday.
Alyssa Heberton Morimoto of Denver, was mapping geological sites Tuesday in the San Isabel National Forest in a remote part of Park County, said Vince Matthews, director of the survey.
Morimoto was working with the service’s Karen Houck, who is also a professor at the University of Colorado-Denver, where Morimoto was a graduate student. Houck contacted officials after responding to the distress call and finding only an empty SUV.
Morimoto’s body was found southwest of Antero Reservoir about 11:40 p.m. Tuesday, nearly 10 hours after she was reported missing.
A man camping in the area was arrested. His name had not been released and Park County officials were trying to verify his identity. Sheriff Fred Wegener said during a news conference the man faces a first-degree murder charge.
Matthews said the suspect had given Houck a ride as she tried hiking out to find cell phone reception.
