This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The search for a West Valley City fisherman missing since last weekend at Utah Lake was dramatically ramped down Wednesday.
"It's become a waiting game for nature to take its course," said Utah County Sheriff's Sgt. Eldon Packer. "We've had to scale way back."
Packer, who spoke on a cell phone from the one Utah State Parks and Recreation boat on the water Wednesday, expressed frustration that 37-year-old Tam Huynh's remains were still not recovered. For the previous four days, scores of state and local officials and volunteers have scoured the lake's shoreline and plied its choppy waves in fleets of watercraft as helicopters and airplanes patrolled above.
On Wednesday, in addition to the single boat, plans were made for a single aircraft to fly over the lake "a couple times a day" through the remainder of the week, Packer said.
"We would sure like to find him and give his family some closure," he said, acknowledging authorities now presume Huynh had drowned.
Huynh was reported missing Saturday night after his empty, 18-foot boat was found stuck in the reeds near the Lindon Boat Harbor.
Packer said the key of the boat's motor was still in the on position and set on half-throttle, and life vests and other equipment were still onboard.
Twitter: @remims