A senior Missouri legal official who went missing during a solo hike in the Wyoming backcountry has been found alive, six days after he was reported overdue.
Shaun Mackelprang, 55, the deputy attorney general for the criminal division in Missouri's attorney general's office, was airlifted to safety Wednesday morning near Scott Lake in the Wind River Range, according to the Sublette County Sheriff's Office. The rugged mountain range stretches roughly 100 miles across western Wyoming.
Mackelprang had set out from the Green River Lakes trailhead on August 20, intending to summit Gannett Peak, the state's highest point at 13,804 feet. When he failed to return, his vehicle was discovered at the trailhead, prompting search and rescue teams to begin looking for him.
The sheriff's office credited the public and backcountry users for helping in the effort. In a Facebook post, a spokesperson wrote: "We also sincerely thank the public and backcountry users who shared information, reviewed photographs and GPS data, shared the missing-person information, and helped get the word out."
Authorities initially released few details about Mackelprang's condition. Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway, a Republican, told a local radio station that he was dehydrated and had been taken to a hospital, but was expected to make a full recovery.
The sheriff's office later said Mackelprang was continuing to recover well, with Sheriff K.C. Lehr describing the outcome as a "miraculous recovery." In a Thursday update, a spokesperson said: "Currently, our priority is allowing Shaun the opportunity to rest and recover. Search and Rescue personnel will have an opportunity to debrief with him later, but the details of what Shaun experienced during his time in the backcountry are ultimately his story to tell, and we will respect his privacy as he recovers."
Mackelprang has been with the Missouri Attorney General's Office since 1998 and became deputy attorney general for the criminal division in 2021, according to his LinkedIn profile. He expressed gratitude to the rescue teams, including Tip Top Search and Rescue, saying in a statement: "I cannot say enough about the dedicated men and women who worked to save my life. It's no easy task to put your life on the line for someone else, especially a stranger who had no place in your life. These men and women did so without a second thought."
The rescue comes amid heightened attention on Wyoming's political landscape, including recent primary contests that have reshaped the state's congressional delegation. The state has also seen federal officials scrutinize election procedures, as Wyoming's governor asked the Justice Department to investigate aggressive poll monitors. Meanwhile, the state's GOP primary results have set up a potential shift in its House representation, with a new candidate emerging as the likely successor to Representative Harriet Hageman.
Mackelprang's survival has been hailed as remarkable, and officials have asked for privacy as he recuperates. The exact details of his ordeal have not yet been disclosed.
