Yellowstone National Park announced that the human foot found in Abyss Pool, located in the West Thumb Geyser Basin, belonged to 70-year-old Il Hun Ro, from Los Angeles, California. Yellowstone law enforcement officers received the positive identification based on DNA analysis in the last three weeks and notified the family.
In August 2022, staff discovered part of a foot in a shoe floating in the well-known thermal feature and an investigation led by Yellowstone law enforcement officers began. The investigation determined, to the best of their knowledge, that an unwitnessed incident involving one individual happened on the morning of July 31st at Abyss Pool, and no foul play occurred. Based on a lack of evidence, the circumstances surrounding the death of Ro remain unknown.
This investigation has concluded, and the park has no additional information to share.