Body of Missing Man Found

By Mary O’KEEFE

Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station Lt. Majory Jacobs has confirmed that the body found in Angeles National Forest was the missing hiker that teams had been searching for since early Monday morning.
The family has been notified that the body discovered is their missing family member.
Henry Richard Derusha, 76, of Silverlake had been reported missing after he failed to return from a camping/hiking trip he began on Friday.
“He was hiking and had [enough food] to camp for at least one night,” said Jacobs. “He had left [for the hike] at [about] 8 a.m. on Friday.”
Derusha is reported to be an experienced hiker. His family expected him to return on Saturday, or by the latest on Sunday. When he did not return they contacted Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station.
Montrose Search and Rescue began searching the area early Monday morning. Derusha’s body was found at 4:25 p.m.
He was found between Switzer Falls and Bear Canyon in an area that was rugged and very rocky. His body was not found on a trail and he apparently died of natural causes, added Jacobs.
Due to darkness and the rugged terrain, search teams will wait until morning to move the body to an area where he can be airlifted by Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department Air 5.
“There are two members of Montrose Search and Rescue and one member from Sierra Madre with [the body] now,” Jacobs said.
The MSR and Sierra Madre members will stay with Derusha through the night until it is safe for Air 5 to transport the body out of the area.