ELKO, Nev., Oct. 1 (UPI) -- The remains of a Canadian man missing since leaving his wife in their stranded van to seek help in March 2011 were found in Nevada's mountains, authorities say.
Elk hunters Rodney Thompson and Jay Doke came across the remains of Albert Chretien, 59, of Penticton, British Columbia, Saturday in a heavily wooded area of Merritt Mountain in Elko County near the Idaho state line, the Elko Daily Free Press reported. Searchers with the county sheriff's office collected the remains and items that confirmed they were those of Chretien the next day. Chretien's remains were taken to a local funeral home.
Chretien's 56-year-old wife, Rita, spent 48 days in their vehicle before being rescued May 6, the newspaper said. She survived on trail mix, hard candy and melted snow.
The couple had been traveling to a trade show in Las Vegas when they got stuck. Albert Chretien tried to hike back to State Route 225 to get help, but it was unknown what happened to him, Global News reported.
Rita Chretien said they had gotten lost by "foolishly following a GPS without a lot of experience" and that her husband had struck out on foot three days after they got stuck.
