Son of missing couple in Moab, Utah speaks out

Lina Portman2 weeks ago

0 3 minutes read

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — On June 24, officials of the Grand County Sheriff's Office received reports of an abandoned vehicle belonging to an overdue party, identified only as “a man and a woman.”

That same Monday, Raymond Ankofski received a call from his sister, during which he learned that the missing man and woman were their parents, Ray and Maranda.

An undated image of Ray and Maranda Ankofski, a couple authorities began searching for on June 24, 2024, after they disappeared in Moab, Utah. Ray and Maranda's family have started a GoFundMe to help raise money to support members of the public who are participating in the search efforts. (Courtesy of Raymond Ankofski)
An undated image of Ray and Maranda Ankofski, a couple authorities began searching for on June 24, 2024, after they went missing in Moab, Utah. Ray and Maranda’s family has started a GoFundMe to help raise money to support members of the public who are helping with the search efforts. (Courtesy of Raymond Ankofski)
An undated image of Ray and Maranda Ankofski, a couple authorities began searching for on June 24, 2024, after they disappeared in Moab, Utah. Ray and Maranda's family have started a GoFundMe to help raise money to support members of the public who are participating in the search efforts. (Courtesy of Raymond Ankofski)
An undated image of Ray and Maranda Ankofski, a couple authorities began searching for on June 24, 2024, after they disappeared in Moab, Utah. Ray and Maranda's family have started a GoFundMe to help raise money to support members of the public who are participating in the search efforts. (Courtesy of Raymond Ankofski)
An undated image of Maranda Ankofski, one half of a couple authorities began searching for on June 24, 2024, after they disappeared in Moab, Utah. Ray and Maranda's family have started a GoFundMe to help raise money to support members of the public who are participating in the search efforts. (Courtesy of Raymond Ankofski)

“The current situation is that our parents are still missing,” Ankofski told ABC4.com on Wednesday.

In the days following their disappearance, the couple's children launched a fundraiser through GoFundMe, with an initial goal of raising $25,000 – but Ankofski explained that the money would not go to the family.

“The money goes to search and rescue to bring my parents back and find my parents,” Ankofski said.

He said that with the money raised from their GoFundMe campaignThe family hopes to help cover the cost of gas and lodging for people who come to help with the search efforts.

Ankofski said his parents went missing in the Steel Bender area of Moab, and while search and rescue teams were still in the area looking for them earlier this week, teams are expected to begin being pulled out Friday .

“Then it will just be left up to the sheriff’s office,” Ankofski said. “That’s a long way to go for the sheriff’s office alone.”

Ankofski said officials told him they would have to scale back their response at the end of the week because of the costs associated with the search efforts. According to a press release from the Grand County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday, eight agencies were involved in the search.

“We hope for the best, but at the same time we also try to be ready for the next step,” Ankofski said.

The Grand County Sheriff's Office asked the public to avoid the Steel Bender Trail area while its search efforts were underway. After their efforts were reduced, Ankofski asked Utahns who are familiar with the Moab area to come out and help with the search.

“I just hope everyone comes together once the search teams move back,” Ankofski said. “I hope everyone comes together and we can, we can bring them home.”

To find the family's GoFundMe page – whether you want to donate or share the link with someone who wants to donate – Click here.