Drought-Stricken Lake Powell Unveils Tragic Secret: A Missing Man's Truck and Remains

A somber chapter in a 17-year-old missing persons case has been tragically closed by the relentless drought gripping the American West. The receding waters of Lake Powell, a vital reservoir spanning the Utah-Arizona border, have yielded a heartbreaking discovery: the remains of Larry Lee Rice, who vanished without a trace in 2007, found inside his submerged truck.

The National Park Service confirmed the discovery, stating that rangers were alerted to a vehicle spotted in the increasingly shallow waters near the Bullfrog area of Lake Powell on April 17, 2024.

As water levels continue to drop to historic lows, once-hidden secrets of the vast lake are slowly coming to light. This particular revelation brought a long-awaited, albeit painful, answer to the Rice family.

Larry Lee Rice, then 61, was last seen on November 2, 2007, sparking years of unanswered questions and lingering hope for his loved ones.

The identification of his remains was a meticulous process, involving the collaboration of National Park Service personnel, the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office, and the Utah Medical Examiner’s Office.

While the recovery effort brought closure to the family regarding Rice's fate, the full circumstances surrounding his death remain shrouded in mystery.

The Utah Medical Examiner’s Office conducted an autopsy, but the official cause of death has been listed as undetermined. This leaves a lingering question mark over the final moments of a man whose disappearance haunted a family for nearly two decades.

The discovery serves as a stark reminder of the profound impact of climate change and prolonged drought on our landscapes and, often, on human stories.

As Lake Powell's waters continue to recede, experts anticipate more long-held secrets may surface, each carrying its own weight of history and human experience.