Lost hat found near cliff leads deputies to missing man’s body, California cops say

A lost hat on the edge of a cliff led searchers to the body of a missing 76-year-old man, California sheriff’s officials reported.

Gregory Noyes of Point Arena was reported missing while traveling to Marin County on Wednesday, May 15, the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.

On Friday, May 17, state park rangers found his vehicle parked at Jug Handle State Natural Reserve, where it had been for several days, sheriff’s officials said.

Deputies assisted rangers in searching the park and found a large-brimmed hat on the ground near the edge of a cliff over the Pacific Ocean, the agency said.

They spotted a man’s body on the rocks about 50 feet below the cliff, deputies said. The man, who had severe injuries from the fall, was dead.

He was identified as Noyes using photos and his California driver’s license, deputies said. No indication of foul play was found, and he appeared to have fallen accidentally.

Investigators ask anyone with information to call 707-463-4086 or leave an anonymous tip at 707-234-2100.

Jug Handle State Natural Reserve is about a 160-mile drive northwest from San Francisco.

This story was originally published May 19, 2024 at 1:02 PM with the headline "Lost hat found near cliff leads deputies to missing man’s body, California cops say."