Missing 19-year-old Latter-day Saint found dead

WASHINGTON COUNTY, Utah — The body of 19-year-old Nicole Bella Bennett was discovered Wednesday morning in the Red Cliffs Recreation Area, west of Leeds, after being reported missing late Tuesday, January 13. Authorities said Bennett’s vehicle had been located near a trailhead north of St. George, prompting an overnight search by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, search and rescue teams, and volunteers.

Search efforts included ground teams, drones, and aerial support from a Utah Department of Public Safety helicopter. At approximately 7:07 a.m., dispatchers received a call from a bystander who located Bennett’s body, marking the conclusion of the search operation. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office said the investigation is ongoing, and deputies and investigators remain on scene.

Officials asked the public to avoid the area to allow law enforcement to complete their work and to provide the family with privacy during this difficult time. Nicole Bennett was a beloved 19-year-old whose family described her as kind, thoughtful, and passionate about hiking and the outdoors. Authorities have not released additional details regarding the circumstances of her death, and the investigation is ongoing.