One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Body of Missing 76-Year-Old Hiker Retrieved From Angeles National Forest
DeRusha (Facebook)
The body of 76-year-old Henry "Dick" DeRusha has been retrieved from Angeles National Forest, reports ABC7. The hiker was first reported missing on Monday by his son, when he determined his elderly father had not come back from the excursion he'd begun on Friday."DeRusha has been a progressive activist in the Echo Park and Silver Lake areas for decades," notes Altadena Patch. "His Facebook page describes him as a retired shop teacher, nightclub manager, printer and photographer. He was also sailor who had taken his boat on long solo ocean voyages."
DeRusha's wife, Bea, attested that her husband suffered from a heart condition, and that he'd packed enough food to last only the duration of his hike, a trek she described as "experimental." His route began at the Switzer Falls campground near Mount Wilson.
The hiker's body was discovered Monday, but crews needed to wait until daylight Tuesday to recover the remains.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
