The Merrell and Standefer families released a statement today, announcing that, while they are still praying for a miracle in the Grand Canyon, the search for 62-year-old Lou Ann Merrell of Vernal and her grandson 14-year-old Jackson Standefer will continue on a limited basis. “After carefully considering all the information available to us, and based on our personal knowledge of the search area,” share the families, “we support Grand Canyon National Park’s decision to scale back the search. We thank the Grand Canyon National Park staff for their exemplary service. We know they have done everything possible since Saturday, April 15th, to find Lou Ann and Jackson. We also know countless people were praying for a much different outcome than this one. We felt your prayers and were sustained by them in ways we cannot begin to describe. We are profoundly grateful for the support that continues to pour in from across the country.” The families also extended their thanks to the many agencies and individuals that helped in the search and asked that their privacy be respected at this time.
Statement from the Merrell and Standefer Families
This morning the Merrell and Standefer families are still praying for a miracle in Grand Canyon National Park. Today, April 20, the search for Lou Ann Merrell and Jackson Standefer will continue on a limited basis. After carefully considering all the information available to us, and based on our personal knowledge of the search area, we support Grand Canyon National Park’s (GCNP) decision to scale back the search.
We thank the… GCNP staff for their exemplary service. We know they have done everything possible since Saturday, April 15, to find Lou Ann and Jackson. We also know countless people were praying for a much different outcome than this one. We felt your prayers and were sustained by them in ways we cannot begin to describe. We are profoundly grateful for the support that continues to pour in from across the country.
We thank GCNP, the Arizona Department of Public Safety, Uintah County (Utah) search and rescue, Merrell Boot Co., SKYTEC of Chattanooga, TN, Xanterra Hospitality, and all others who volunteered their time, talents and equipment in the effort to find Lou Ann and Jackson.
GCNP is expected to release information about the search effort. Please direct all search related questions to GCNP.
We ask that you please continue to pray for our families, as our loved ones are still missing, and please respect our privacy at this time.
Thank you,
The Merrell and Standefer families
