Alaska News

Remains of missing Alaska hiker Cody Dial 'likely' found in Costa Rica

Human remains found in Costa Rica are likely those of missing Alaska hiker Cody Roman Dial, according to reports.

Costa Rica's Judicial Investigation Police told reporters Friday that remains found in Corcovado National Park "very likely" belong to the hiker who went missing in the park in July 2014, according to English-language newspaper The Tico Times.

Dial's father, noted Alaska adventurer Roman Dial, confirmed to People magazine that his son's remains had likely been found. He told the magazine he and his wife, Peggy, were en route to Costa Rica Friday to "identify what appears to be Cody's body."

Messages to Roman Dial were not immediately returned Saturday morning.

The Tico Times reported the remains were found inside the Southwest Costa Rica park but outside the bounds of previous searches for Dial. According to Costa Rican police, items found with the remains include tennis shoes and camping gear matching descriptions Dial's parents gave to police.

[Related: Father of Alaskan missing in Costa Rica fears foul play]

Forensic investigators planned to hike into the park Saturday to conduct an investigation and collect the remains.

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The discovery comes just before the documentary series "Missing Dial" begins airing on the National Geographic Channel Sunday. The series follows Roman Dial's search trying to locate his son in the Costa Rican jungle.

Costa Rican police told reporters that the documentary had nothing to do with the "timing or discovery of the remains."

Messages to both Costa Rican police and the U.S. Embassy were not immediately returned Saturday morning.

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