Body found while searching for missing woman in Juab County; person of interest in detention

Family members looking for a 64-year-old woman who was reportedly abandoned last week in rural Juab County found a woman's body during a search Saturday near the area of ​​Juab County. Silver City.

Deputy Sheriff Brent Pulver said it was too early to confirm whether the body found was that of Jan Pearson-Jenkins, but the circumstances indicate that it could be "bad." she. A person of interest was arrested for questioning. Pulver refused to identify the person.

Pulver said that a member of the Pearson-Jenkins family had found the body around 11:45. He did not want to comment on the state of the body nor make any assumptions about the death of that person except to say that he had not been found in any of the many open bodies. mines in the area. Two teenagers – Riley Powell and Brelynne "Breezy" Otteson – were killed and their bodies hidden in a mine shaft in this area at the end of December 2017.

Pearson-Jenkins was last seen on Oct. 4, when she left Sandy to camp with Cody Young near Eureka. Police said Young, who was in his 40s, sent a message to family members the next day, claiming he had had a quarrel with Pearson-Jenkins and left him in the desert.

She did not have her mobile phone and was not dressed for the cold.

During Saturday's search, the crews also discovered a campsite. Pulver did not confirm that it was the one where Pearson-Jenkins and Young had remained, although he stated that the evidence found in this place would have been consistent with that.

The police were looking for Young, suspected of driving an old dark colored van bearing Arizona license plate number, CGA3392. He is described as being white, thin, about 5 feet 5 inches, with glasses, facial hair and golden brown hair that he wears in a ponytail.

Anyone with information about the disappearance of Pearson-Jenkins can contact the Juab County Sheriff's Department at 435-623-1344.

This story will be updated.