Jim Ireland, Superintendent, Timpanogos Cave National Monument / NPS Utah State Coordinator

Office: 801-756-5239 x.101 Mobile: 801-910-5560 Fax: 801-756-5661

Web: www.nps.gov/tica Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/timpanogoscavenps Twitter: @TimpCaveNPS

Timpanogos Cave National Monument involved in search for missing

American Fork woman Jerika Binks; issues clarification of misinformation
circulating on social media
Photos, taken by a National Park Service (NPS) wildlife monitoring camera in February, were
posted today on a private Facebook page dedicated to the search for Jerika Alvey Binks. The
NPS camera, used only in the winter months, had been located approximately halfway up the
Timpanogos Cave trail.

Wildlife camera belongs to NPS, not DNR

The Facebook page incorrectly states that this camera belonged to the Utah Department of
Natural Resources (DNR). The National Park Service routinely collects wildlife information
within its parks, and automatic “game cameras” like the one placed on the cave trail during the
closed season is a simple and inexpensive way to collect wildlife data.

This NPS camera was placed on the closed trail in the late fall of 2017. It was retrieved on
March 27, 2018. When park staff downloaded the images, they recognized a woman matching
Jerika’s description in photos date stamped as February 16, the reported date of her
disappearance.

The photos were immediately turned over to the Utah County Sheriff’s Office (UCSO), the
agency with jurisdiction over the investigation and search for Binks.

Photos triggered an extensive, exhaustive search of park area

Following the discovery of these photographs, an exhaustive search of the park and surrounding
area was conducted by the UCSO and the county Search and Rescue team. Focusing on areas
above and below the cave trail, multiple days of searches were conducted by air and ground,
including helicopters, drones, dog teams, and ground searchers rappelling through steep terrain.
Clues, as small as water bottles or other litter, detected from the air were checked by ground
teams. NPS staff actively participated and assisted in the search effort.

Alternate Routes also searched

It is unknown what route Jerrika took to get above the locked NPS gate. Adjacent scree slopes,
animal trails and other possible but unauthorized routes were also searched multiple times.

The cave trail gate is locked from below but can be opened from above at all times, leaving open
the possibility that she continued down the trail and left the park.
Other “locked gates” mentioned in social media are outside park, belong to UDOT or USFS

Locked gates on State Route 92 (Alpine Scenic Loop) are managed by the Utah Department of
Transportation, and other road gates in the canyon are controlled by the Pleasant Grove Ranger
District within the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest. The gate on SR 92 is typically
unlocked for summer traffic on the Friday of Memorial Day weekend – this year May 25.

Volunteer searchers must stay on trail within monument boundaries, safety is critical

The steep slopes above and below the cave trail are extremely dangerous. Falls and falling rock
have caused injuries and fatalities to visitors, employees, and rescuers during past incidents.

The NPS and UCSO conducted exhaustive searches of this area with highly trained and well
equipped search and rescue personnel.

The park reminds everyone to stay on the paved trail and report any observations or information
related to this case to rangers or the Utah County Sheriff for investigation.

The trail, park visitor center, and cave tours all open to general public access on Saturday, May
19.