MEDIA RELEASE

Police have identified human remains discovered last week at a remote location at the 12,000-foot elevation of Mauna Kea.

The remains were identified through dental records as Brian Patrick Murphy of Plymouth, Mich., who was 67 when he was reported missing from that area in December 2007.

Murphy reportedly left the visitor’s center at the 9,200-foot-level one afternoon in December 2007, wearing a light shirt and slacks.

Although a state ranger warned Murphy about the difficulty of the attempt and a forecast of an impending snowstorm, he continued on his hike.

When Murphy failed to return, an extensive search was conducted, but no sign was found until last week when a Native Hawaiian hiking group stumbled upon the remains.