Missing Hiker's Body Found Near El Cajon Mountain Trail In Lakeside

LAKESIDE, CA — The body of a missing hiker was found Tuesday near a hiking trail in eastern San Diego County.

The man went for a hike around 9 a.m. Monday on El Cajon Mountain, commonly known as El Capitan, in Lakeside, according to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department. When he did not return home when expected, his family reported him missing, sheriff's Lt. Chris Katra said.

Members of the department's Search and Rescue Unit searched for the man through the night and into the morning with the help of a sheriff's helicopter, Katra said. The body of the 34-year-old man, whose name was withheld pending family notification, was discovered at about 8:45 a.m. Tuesday near one of the hiking trails at the East County landmark.

"Once the body is recovered, it will be turned over to the Medical Examiner's Office," Katra said."The Medical Examiner will make a positive identification of the man, as well as determine cause and manner of death pending notification of his family."