Pleasanton Police Close Philip Kreycik Case; New Details Surface

Pleasanton CA

24 August, 2021

11:12 AM

Description

PLEASANTON, CA — The Pleasanton Police Department closed its missing persons investigation into the disappearance of Philip Kreycik. This comes as new details about the final stretch of the ultramarathon runner's route came to light thanks to the San Francisco Chronicle. Kreycik, 37, of Berkeley was reported missing July 10 when he failed to return from a run in Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park. The Alameda County Coroner's Bureau confirmed a body found by a volunteer searcher Aug. 5 was his. Officials surmised that he likely wandered off the path he intended to take on a day when triple-digit heat was in the forecast. Kreycik was found in the northern end of the park, in proximity to a trail forged by animals. Kreycik was wearing a GPS watch at the time of his disappearance, but searchers were unable to track his movements because the watch needed to be near his cell phone in order to connect to communication infrastructure. His cell phone was found in his car, along with a map of a route he planned to take. Investigators were able to access that GPS data after they recovered his body, the Chronicle reported. Kreycik's final movements appeared to be erratic toward the end of his run, the paper reported. He was slowly "zig-zagging in tight clusters" around an area frequented by animals before he came to a stop in the same place his body was found, the Chronicle reported. Alameda County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Ray Kelly told the paper experts believed it was likely he suffered from heat stroke and may have hallucinated or acted irrationally before passing out. Pleasanton police said over the weekend that the department closed the tip line as it wrapped up its investigation. "Along with our partner agencies, we appreciate the community's support and cooperation with this case," the police said. Kreycik leaves behind wife, Jen Yao; two young children; and his parents, Keith and Marcia Kreycik. Read more about the GPS data on Kreycik's watch at the San Francisco Chronicle. Full coverage from Patch: Philip Kreycik's Family Grapples With Grief And GratitudeMissing Runner's Body 'Likely' Found In Pleasanton, Police SayPhilip Kreycik Search Revived Over The Weekend To No AvailPleasanton Officials Resume Search For Philip KreycikMissing Hiker: $80K Raised For Family, Friend Shares New DetailsMissing Runner: 1K Donate To Search Efforts, FamilyPleasanton Locals Drive Search For Missing Runner Philip KreycikOfficials Scale Back Search As It Enters Day 6Missing Pleasanton Hiker Either Incapacitated Or Gone: OfficialsVolunteers Sought As Search For Philip Kreycik Continues