The Nutty Putty Cave, where John Edward Jones tragically spent his final 28 hours, will now serve as his permanent resting place.
Authorities announced on Friday that the cave will be permanently sealed, and no further attempts will be made to retrieve Jones’s body.
“Due to the location of his remains and the extreme risks involved in accessing the area, we have determined that recovering John is not feasible,” stated Sgt. Spencer Cannon of the Utah County Sheriff’s Office. “As a result, the decision has been made to close the cave permanently.”
While final plans for sealing the cave are still under discussion, officials have assured that a space will be set aside for the Jones family to establish a memorial in his honor. Until the cave is officially closed, a uniformed deputy will guard the entrance to ensure it remains undisturbed.
“For the family, this will be a sacred place,” Cannon added.
Jones became trapped around 8:45 p.m. on Tuesday night in an uncharted, narrow offshoot of the main passage. The passage was so tight that it remained unnamed, as most cavers had been unable to explore or map it.
His younger brother, Josh Jones, expressed deep gratitude toward the rescue teams, acknowledging the immense effort put forth.
“We know that some of the rescuers may feel like they failed us, but we want them to know they did everything they possibly could,” he said.
Josh emphasized that while his brother embraced adventure, he would have wanted to prevent others from facing a similar tragedy. Nutty Putty Cave had a history of previous rescues, including cases where individuals became trapped in the same vicinity. Closing the cave, Josh noted, not only ensures safety but also provides a place for loved ones to honor John’s memory.
“This will be a site to remember and respect our brother,” he said.
Sgt. Tom Hodgson admitted that the decision to seal the cave was difficult, but ultimately, there was no other viable option. Over the past decade, the cave had been the site of multiple high-profile rescues, including one involving a teenager trapped just a few feet from where John was stuck.
Rescues in and around the cave have drained emergency resources, with John’s case being one of the most difficult Hodgson had ever encountered. The extreme conditions made it nearly impossible to extract him, with rescuers unable to use jackhammers due to the confined space. Some worked with small hammers, chipping away at the rock mere inches at a time in a desperate bid to free him.
Despite the tireless efforts of more than 130 rescuers, who dedicated approximately 3,700 hours to the mission, the outcome was devastating. The emotional toll on the team was immense, but Hodgson credited the Jones family for their unwavering support.
“Their primary concern has been the well-being of the rescuers,” Hodgson said. “They have shown incredible strength and deserve a great deal of recognition for that.”
The cave, located on state school trust land, will be sealed as quickly as possible, according to Kim Christy, assistant director of the Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration. Officials are set to meet on Monday to finalize closure plans, with the hope of completing the process within a few weeks.
“We are deeply saddened by this tragedy,” Christy said.
John Edward Jones, 26, leaves behind his pregnant wife, Emily, and a young child. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations to the Emily Jones Foundation Memorial Fund at Wells Fargo, Utah Community Credit Union, and Zions Bank.
His funeral is scheduled for today at 11 a.m. at the Stansbury Park Stake Center.
