His wife said the family no longer has to wait, after the body of the last missing hiker was recovered.
A pilot from Wyoming’s Star Valley has been named as the person whose remains were found Monday near Crystal Rapids on the Colorado River. Timothy Allen Smith, 53, was identified through that discovery. His wife, Carrie, confirmed the identification in a Facebook post Thursday. The deadly flash flooding that devastated the Phantom Ranch area at the canyon bottom has now claimed three lives.
Smith’s two companions, Brent Rosenkranz, 42, and John Giusti, 46, both of Granbury, Texas, were found earlier. All three were on a multiday hiking, fishing and camping trip when the flooding swept through the Grand Canyon.
The Trip and What Went Wrong
Smith came from Granbury and made his home with his wife at Star Valley Ranch, roughly 40 miles southwest of Jackson. The plan for the trip called for two nights of trail walking near the bottom of the canyon, followed by fishing, before heading to Havasupai Gardens, which the park describes as a “frequent stop for hikers and mule trains traveling up and down the Bright Angel Trail.”
During the summer monsoon season, clear skies can suddenly yield to thunderstorms and heavy rain. That is when the flooding started, beginning Aug. 29. The desert’s open spaces direct water from a downpour into fast-moving streams that rush through gullies and canyons that were dry just moments before.
The rain fell on part of a North Rim burn area left after a lightning-caused wildfire in July 2025. That fire destroyed the historic Grand Canyon Lodge, cabins and other structures. Burn areas can worsen flash flooding because there is less vegetation to absorb runoff.
Search Efforts and the Rescue Total
Searchers used night vision and other equipment during the two-day deluge to find people in need of rescue. They relied on the Grand Canyon National Park’s permit system and checked vehicle license plates to track those still missing. More than 80 people were rescued.
Only Smith was left unaccounted for. A Facebook video from the time featured Carrie Smith and their children expressing gratitude for the support and prayers they had received.
Carrie Smith took to Facebook early on Tuesday morning to announce that the family had learned a body had been recovered the previous day, and she invited others to join them in prayer.
“We no longer have to wait, Tim was found two days ago by the Rangers at Grand Canyon National Park. Not in the way we had hoped, but we know that he was doing something he loved with John and Brent.”
The Families’ Statement
Thursday brought confirmation from Smith herself, via her Facebook post, that the remains had been matched to her husband.
“We know that these three men loved the Lord and were a shining light for Him. The impact their lives had on others is still being shown to our families daily,” she wrote.
Neither the National Park Service nor the Department of the Interior responded to emails requesting comment on Thursday. The two agencies have yet to name the people whose remains were discovered this week.
The Pipeline and Water Supply
A pipeline that crosses the canyon and delivers water to millions of visitors and local residents was damaged by the flooding. Because there was not enough water to sustain operations, all overnight lodging had to stop until the pipeline could be fixed.
Officials with the National Park Service said recently that they anticipated restoring a dependable water supply within weeks rather than months. They reached that conclusion after discovering that the vast majority of a nearly finished pipeline project had escaped damage from the flash flooding.
The inner canyon still lacks water, with supplies cut off entirely there. Many hiking trails and lodging areas stay closed as well. Officials warn hikers to carry their own water or water filtration devices instead.
Another Storm Hits
Park officials announced that a flash flood struck Bright Angel Creek and the Colorado River during a storm on Wednesday. The event caused no injuries.
Officials said the evacuation of people from the canyon before the storm, along with flash flood warnings, allowed crews to get to safety. Assessments of the damage were already being made.
What Happens Now
A family that had spent weeks waiting and wondering finally found peace with the discovery. Carrie Smith’s message on Thursday confirmed the identification.
“We no longer have to wait,” she wrote.
Services are still being restored and damage is continuing to be assessed within the park. The pipeline repair schedule is measured in weeks rather than months.
Key Facts Box
- Victims: Timothy Allen Smith, 53; Brent Rosenkranz, 42; John Giusti, 46
- Location: Grand Canyon, near Phantom Ranch
- Date of flooding: Aug. 29
- Earlier victims found: Rosenkranz and Giusti found earlier; Smith’s remains found Monday
- Rescues: More than 80 people rescued
- Pipeline status: Water supply expected to be restored in weeks
The tale of the three hikers who put their lives on the line for the canyon has come to a close. Carrie Smith’s words carry the family’s message.
See the video the story is built around at Cbsnews.
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