Missing hiker found dead after being mauled by a bear who also attacked a member of his search party
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Missing hiker found dead after being mauled by a bear who also attacked a member of his search party.
A 44-year-old man who went missing in the woods in Alaska on Monday evening was mauled to death by a bear.
The body of Michael Soltis, who was last seen near Eagle River in Anchorage, was found near Hiland Road on Wednesday, not far from the area where a member of his search party was mauled.
Anchorage Police Department spokesman MJ Thim told the Anchorage Daily News he believed Soltis’ body had been dragged away by the bear, who was protecting its prey when the search group arrived.
‘We believe the victim was attacked by the bear and taken to this location,’ he explained.
‘The brown bear was protecting its prey, its find, when the volunteer group entered the area and the adult male volunteer was attacked.’
As of 1pm local time, the bear had not been found, and Anchorage Police were asking people to avoid the area because of the ‘aggressive bear’.
The search party victim had serious injuries to his leg and was hospitalized. His injuries are not reported to be life threatening.
Elisabeth Claus, Soltis’ fiancee, shared the devastating news in an update to a Facebook post pleading for help finding Soltis.
‘They found Michael’s body. He had been mauled by a bear,’ she wrote.
Soltis, a civil engineer, and Elisabeth are expecting a child.
Pictured: Elisabeth’s heartbreaking plea for help from friends and family
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