A harrowing week in Wyoming’s wilderness came to a relief-filled end as a missing Missouri deputy attorney general was found alive on Wednesday. After embarking on a quest for the state’s tallest mountain, he vanished for nearly a week, setting off a high-stakes search.
The Sublette County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Shaun Mackelprang was discovered near the serene Scott Lake in the Wind River Range on Wednesday morning. After enduring intense aerial and ground searches, rescue teams located him in the thick of the rugged terrain.
Once found, rescue personnel swiftly prepared Mackelprang for air evacuation by helicopter, ensuring his safe journey out of the unforgiving backcountry by mid-morning, around 9:45 a.m.
Shaun Mackelprang was not only found but also deemed a testament to human resilience, having survived the formidable elements of Wyoming’s Wind River Range for six days. (Facebook / Sublette County Sheriff’s Office)
Despite his miraculous discovery, Mackelprang was in dire need of hydration and appeared disoriented when aid reached him. His brother, Romel Mackelprang, shared these details with Cowboy State Daily, underscoring the challenging conditions his sibling faced after summiting the daunting Gannett Peak.
Romel said his brother has been working his way through the highest points in all 50 states, with Gannett Peak, the highest mountain in Wyoming at an elevation of 13,804 feet, next on his list.
“This is number 45,” Romel told the outlet, adding that rescuers found his brother had signed the summit register, meaning it appeared the trouble began during his descent.
Search crews spent days looking for Mackelprang on the ground and from the air. (Facebook / Sublette County Sheriff’s Office)
He said he did not know how much longer his brother could have survived in the backcountry.
“There’s only so much you can handle,” Romel said. “So we just are so grateful for everything that everyone has done on his behalf.”
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It was unclear what kind of trouble Mackelprang ran into during his trek. (Facebook / Sublette County Sheriff’s Office)
Mackelprang set out from the Green River Lakes Trailhead on Aug. 20, 2025, planning to reach Gannett Peak.
The search began after Mackelprang was reported missing, and his vehicle was found at the trailhead.
Crews from Tip Top Search and Rescue and the Sublette County Sheriff’s Office searched for Mackelprang with help from the sheriff’s drone team and a rescue helicopter.
Missouri Attorney General Catherine L. Hanaway also celebrated Mackelprang’s rescue.
“We are thrilled to hear that Deputy Attorney General Shaun Mackelprang has been located,” Hanaway said in a statement.
Mackelprang set out from the Green River Lakes Trailhead on Aug. 20 to hike to Gannett Peak. (Facebook / Sublette County Sheriff’s Office)
“Our office is beyond grateful for everyone’s prayers and the steadfast work of the Sublette County Sheriff’s Office and drone team, Tip Top Search and Rescue’s volunteers and helicopter crew, and Wyoming State leaders,” Hanaway added.
The sheriff’s office also thanked hikers and others who shared information about Mackelprang, reviewed photographs and GPS data and helped spread word of his disappearance.
Authorities have not said what happened to Mackelprang during the six days he was missing.