Crime & Safety

Sheriff Confirms Body of Silver Lake Activist Found in Angeles National Forest

Earlier in the day rescue teams were called out after it was reported that 76-year-old father Dick DeRuscha missing after a hike in the Angeles National Forest over the weekend.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Deputy Mark Pope says missing hiker Henry "Dick" DeRusha has been found dead in "a remote area" of the Angeles National Forest.

His body was found around 4:30 Monday afternoon between Switzer Falls Canyon and Bear Canyon Junction after he failed to return from a hike.

According to City News Service, the body will not be recovered until Tuesday morning, as it is too dark to fly a helicopter in and too remote to carry it out.

Find out what's happening in Echo Park-Silver Lakewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Rescue crews found DeRusha's body after the 76-year- old Silver Lake activist failed to return from a hike that began at the Switzer Falls campground area near Mount Wilson in the Angeles National Forest.

He was reported missing this morning by his son.

Find out what's happening in Echo Park-Silver Lakewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

DeRusha's wife, Bea, said her husband had a heart condition and took only enough food with him to last for his hike, which she described as ``a bit experimental.''

DeRusha has been a progressive activist in the Echo Park and Silver Lake areas for decades.

He had left the area for a number of years, but recently returned.

His Facebook page describes him as a retired shop teacher, nightclub manager, printer and photographer.

He was also sailor who had taken his boat on long solo ocean voyages.

Rescue teams from Montrose, Altadena and Sierra Madre have searched for DeRusha throughout the day. 


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.

More from Echo Park-Silver Lake