Veteran Missing for 4 Days Found Dead After Motorcycle Crash: 'Deeply Cherished by His Family'

“Our thoughts are with the family and loved ones affected by this tragedy,” Utah police said in response to the death of Eduardo Gutierrez-Nava, 35

Eduardo Gutierrez Nava
Eduardo Gutierrez-Nava (right). Photo:

GoFundMe

The body of a man from Cedar City, Utah, who went missing last week has been found by authorities following a deadly motorcycle incident.

In a news release shared by the Cedar City Police Department on Friday, Nov. 1, authorities confirmed marine veteran Eduardo Gutierrez-Nava, 35, was reported missing on Tuesday, Oct. 29, and last seen on his motorcycle.

At the time, the search for Gutierrez-Nava concentrated on the east side of Cedar City in the foothills and mountains, the police said, per the release.

On Saturday, Nov. 2, the Cedar City Police Department shared an update confirming the death of Gutierrez-Nava, whose remains were found on State Route 14, just east of Cedar City. His motorcycle was also found at the site.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 

“Preliminary investigations indicate that the victim may have lost control of his motorcycle, resulting in a fatal crash,” the police stated. 

“Our thoughts are with the family and loved ones affected by this tragedy,” the statement continued. “The Utah Highway Patrol is actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the accident.”

According to the St. George News, Gutierrez-Nava was last seen riding a dark silver Ducati street motorcycle on the night of Monday, Oct. 28. He was later reported as missing when he wasn’t present at his job.

Iron County Search and Rescue, which was involved in the search for the victim, said in a Facebook post that the three-day operation involved about 50 people, as well as a number of drones, ATVs, trucks and helicopters.

“Our deepest condolences go to the family and loved ones affected by this tragedy,” the Iron County Search and Rescue team wrote, adding, “We are also very grateful to all those who took time out of their lives to assist us in these search efforts.”

A GoFundMe was established on behalf of Gutierrez-Nava’s family, which, as of Tuesday, Nov. 5, has raised $9,500.

“Eddie is remembered as a dedicated father, an honored Marine, and someone deeply cherished by his family and friends. The funds raised will go toward covering funeral expenses to support Eduardo’s family and his young son,” the description read.

PEOPLE contacted the GoFundMe organizer for additional information on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

Comments
All comments are subject to our Community Guidelines. PEOPLE does not endorse the opinions and views shared by readers in our comment sections.

Related Articles