Remains of missing man found in Shenandoah National Park

Mateo Cobo ZevallosPhoto byFairfax Police Department / Shenandoah National Park

LURAY, Va. – After a week-long search, remains believed to be those of a missing Oakton man were located in the northern portion of Shenandoah National Park.

Mateo Cobo Zevallos, 21, was last seen May 5 leaving his home en route to George Mason University in Fairfax. He was reported as missing to the Fairfax County Police Department on May 6.

Shenandoah National Park "missing" flyerPhoto byShenandoah National Park

Based on information provided to Shenandoah National Park on the evening of Tuesday, May 16, rangers began a search for Mr. Zevallos’ vehicle. The car was located in the northern portion of Shenandoah National Park in a parking area that serves the Overall Run Falls hiking trail.

Following an initial hasty search for Mr. Zevallos on Tuesday evening, the park activated a full-scale search operation early Wednesday. The Overall Run trail, Traces trail, Mathews Arm trail, Tuscarora trail, Beecher Ridge trail, and Thompson Hollow trail were all closed for search operations. The search continued through the weekend.

Photo byShenandoah National Park

Just after 12 p.m. on Sunday, May 21, remains believed to be those of Mr. Zevallos were found in steep terrain, approximately 1.6 miles from where his vehicle was parked.

The body was transported to the Office of the Medical Examiner in Manassas for positive identification and determination of cause of death.

The search was led by Shenandoah National Park Search and Rescue personnel, aided by Virginia Department of Emergency Management, Fairfax County Police, Virginia State Police, as well as numerous volunteer SAR organizations including Piedmont SAR, Blue Ridge Mountain Rescue Group, Old Rag Mountain Stewards, Virginia Rescue Dog Association, Christian Ministries SAR, SAR Tracking Institute, Blacksburg Volunteer Rescue Squad, Shenandoah Mountain Rescue Group, Blue and Grey Rescue Dogs, TrotSAR, and K9 Alert.

Trails in Shenandoah National Park that were closed for search operations have since been reopened.

Photo byShenandoah National Park