Officials release name of hiker who died at Connecticut park
April 7, 2021 GMT
NEW MILFORD, Conn. (AP) Authorities on Wednesday released the name of a hiker who went missing and was later found dead on Easter Sunday in Lovers Leap State Park in Connecticut.
The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection identified the hiker as Joao Lucas, 39, of Danbury, who was found in Lake Lillinonah inside the New Milford park during a search by several agencies.
The chief medical examiner’s office has ruled the death an accidental drowning. DEEP spokesman Will Healey said it remains under investigation.
Other people hiking with Lucas said they last saw him heading down from an overlook in the park late Sunday afternoon, Healey said.
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1 The Devil’s Hopyard in East Haddam. A search for the origin of the name “Devil’s Hopyard” reveals many stories; all of them likely more fiction than fact. One tale comes from pothole stone formations. Early settlers said that the devil had passed by the falls, accidentally getting his tail wet. This made him so mad he burned holes in the stones with his hooves as he bounded away. (Photo courtesy of Connecticut DEEP )
2 Set in the scenic rolling hills of the western highlands, 439-acre Black Rock State Park in Watertown features a variety of outdoor activities and steep, wooded ledges covered with pine, hemlock, and oak surrounding Black Rock Pond. (Photo courtesy of Connecticut DEEP
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New Milford officials urge caution at Lovers Leap after hiker found dead in Lake Lillinonah
Tara O’Neill
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DEEP officials said a missing hiker was found dead Sunday night in Lover’s Leap State Park in New Milford.File photo
NEW MILFORD After a missing hiker was found dead Sunday night in Lake Lillinonah, local officials are urging the public to be cautious while hiking.
Several agencies responded to Lovers Leap State Park for a report of a missing hiker, according to the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection spokesman Will Healey.
“We send our condolences and deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the hiker that tragically lost their life,” Mayor Pete Bass said Monday morning.
Published April 4, 2021 •
Updated on April 5, 2021 at 7:07 am
NBC Local
A missing hiker was found dead at Lovers Leap State Park in New Milford Sunday and Environmental Conservation Police are investigating.
Department of Energy and Environmental Protection officials said the people the man was hiking with last saw him hiking down from an overlook in the park and he was later found dead in Lake Lillinonah. Download our mobile app for iOS or Android to get alerts for local breaking news and weather.
The State Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has not determined the cause and manner of death.
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