According to George Moreno of the Imperial County Sheriff’s Department, Tanner had texted a friend on 9/4 saying he had run out of gas and water while riding his motorcycle. In the message, he said that if you don’t hear from me tomorrow morning, contact authorities for help. When the friend didn’t hear from him the next morning, he contacted the San Diego police, who notified the Imperial County Sheriff’s Department immediately and a search began that morning.
The department’s search and rescue unit, with an air squadron began searching the area. It took them three days to find his camp site, on 9/7, which was about 50 miles away from the nearest town. The search concentrated on the area and Marine Corps helicopters from the base in Yuma, AZ, spotted a body at Noon the next day, about two miles away from the camp site.
Tanner’s motorcycle, which was out of gas, was recovered a few miles away from his body. Moreno noted that there was plenty of water and gas at his camp site.
Moreno said there was no indication of the death being a suicide. He noted the investigation into the death was still ongoing and that the circumstances were very strange. He said that at times people have gotten lost in the area in the winter, but because of the heat and people avoiding the area, something like this is unusual in the summer.
I really don’t know what to think. More on this as it comes out.