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Search continues for man believed to be missing in Garfield County


Multiple agencies searching for missing man after vehicle located in Garfield County. (Photo: Emily Madsen)
Multiple agencies searching for missing man after vehicle located in Garfield County. (Photo: Emily Madsen)
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Search and rescue crews from numerous counties in southern Utah are searching in remote Garfield County for 32-year-old Austin Madsen.

Madsen, a Mapleton resident, told family members that he may have been heading to Arizona. However, after a video circulated of his potential location, SAR crews were able to locate Madsen’s truck at a trailhead near Mount Dutton in Garfield County.

“It’s not common for him to go this long without any sort of communication,” said Emily Madsen, Austin’s wife to 2News on Wednesday morning. “I talked to him via FaceTime and he was snowshoeing and looked like he was having fun, but then he was looking for the truck was going to get down and I haven’t heard from him since.”

RELATED: Multiple agencies searching for missing man after vehicle located in Garfield County

Emily said that she last spoke her husband on Friday afternoon. Over the weekend, Garfield County Sheriff’s Office learned that Austin may be within the county and enlisted help from numerous agencies, including the Utah Department of Public Safety’s Aero Bureau, to search.

“I’m so grateful for everyone and people sharing the post and just everyone, strangers, friends, family and people who are risking their lives to try and help save Austin; wherever he is,” said Emily. “It’s really unbearable, I didn’t think I’d have to go through something like this.”

Emily and Austin have two young children. She believes Austin wanted to go into the mountains to clear his head. She also said that Austin has been experiencing some mental health challenges.

“He’s a mountain guy, adventure guy, he loves the outdoors,” said Emily, who didn’t think Austin had been to the Mt. Dutton area before. “He’s a really fun and adventurous, outgoing guy. That’s just his go-to spot is just trail running and being outside.”

If you have any information about Austin’s whereabouts, you can contact Mapleton Police at 801-491-8048.

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