Woman found dead in mountains after day hike in Southern California

A Southern California woman who never returned from a hike last weekend has been found dead, authorities said.

Narineh Avakian, 37, of Glendale, Calif., Was found dead on Saturday around 1:30 p.m. after nearly a week of searches by authorities.

Avakian told her family she was leaving for a day hike around noon on Sunday, the Glendale Police Department said in a statement on Friday.

When Avakian did not return, his family reported him missing on Monday.

Avakian has taken solo trips often, the family told police, and they were unsure where she planned to walk that day.

His car was found parked in the Buckhorn day-use area along Angeles Crest Road Thursday afternoon, authorities said. The area is located in the Angeles National Forest at an elevation of 6,700 feet.

Avakian’s body was found near the Mount Waterman trailhead on Saturday, the Glendale Police Department said.

“It should be noted that this area was heavily affected by the recent snowstorm,” police said in a statement Friday.

Avakian’s car was towed for further processing to the Glendale station, and a search and rescue team from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department was immediately deployed alongside volunteers.

“Based on a preliminary investigation, it does not appear that any foul play was involved in his death. An investigation into the cause of death of Narineh Avakian is underway,” police said on Saturday.

The search effort was suspended around 2 a.m. local time on Friday after about a foot of snow fell overnight, before resuming several hours later, police said.

The search was active as of Friday afternoon with a “large contingent” of search and rescue teams, police said. Authorities have “strongly discouraged” members of the public from conducting their own research.

His body was found by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department search and rescue team as well as a number of helping counties after efforts resumed on Saturday.

Anyone with information about Avakian’s death can call 818-548-4911.

ABC News’ Matt Fuhrman contributed to this report.