Watch CBS News

Yosemite Remains May Be Of Missing Livermore Man

Human remains found in Yosemite National Park earlier this month might be those of a Livermore man who went missing while on a hike in the park in 2003, a park spokeswoman said Tuesday.

Fred Claassen, who was 46 at the time, went on a solo hiking trip on July 31, 2003, but never returned home, Yosemite park spokeswoman Kari Cobb said.

A Forest Service ranger found the remains on Sept. 4 in the northeastern part of the park near Whorl Mountain, Cobb said.

Cobb said authorities have not confirmed that the remains are those of Claassen, but said, "There is evidence that he's linked at least to what was found at the site."

The bones are undergoing DNA testing that will take about six weeks to determine whether they are Claassen's, she said.

Claassen was reported missing on Aug. 4, 2003, after he did not return from the four-day hike, which investigators believe was supposed to take him from Twin Lakes to areas near Barney and Crown lakes, Mule Pass, Burro Pass, Matterhorn Peak and Horse Creek.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.