Wrestling champion Evan Tanner dies
His body is found in a remote desert area. Authorities say he apparently 'succumbed to the elements.'
SAN DIEGO--Champion wrestler Evan Tanner has been found dead in a remote desert area of Imperial County, the county's coroner said today.
A body was found Monday night and identified this morning as the 37-year-old wrestler who often went on camping trips to the desert seeking solitude and spiritual energy.
Authorities began looking for Tanner on Friday after receiving a call from his friends that he was no longer text-messaging them, said Imperial County Sheriff's Lt. George Moreno. A Marine Corps helicopter from the base at Yuma aided in the search.
Tanner's camp and motorcycle were found in an area near the Palo Verde mountains, and his body was found several miles away. Authorities speculate that Tanner's motorcycle may have broken down and he was attempting to walk to safety.
There was no sign of foul play, Moreno said.
"It looks like he succumbed to the elements," he said.
Tanner, at 6-feet-tall, 185 pounds, was known for his aggressive style that intimidated opponents. He rose to the top of the mixed martial arts competition, winning championships in this country and Japan.
Born in Amarillo, Texas, Tanner was a champion wrestler in high school. After turning professional, he won titles as a middleweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship and then a heavyweight in the United States Wrestling Federation. He was 32-8 as a professional.
He lived in Oceanside and later in Gresham, Ore.
A helicopter pilot spotted a body Monday near the California-Arizona border. On his website, Tanner had told friends Aug. 15 that he was going camping in a spot so remote that "any failure of my equipment could cost me my life."
Temperatures have exceeded 100 degrees in recent days in the desert region, where water is scarce and cellphone connections patchy.
On his website, Tanner wrote recently, "I've been a traveler my entire life, constantly on the move, searching for new adventures, seeking knowledge, looking for the truth of things. It has been my way of life."
He also noted recent turmoil in his life, including problems with drinking, money and relationships with women. He promised his fans that when he returned to the ring, "I will show you what a man can become."
tony.perry@latimes.com
