Lansing native found dead at national park in Alaska

LANSING – A Lansing native was found dead in Alaska’s Denali National Park on Sunday.

Michael Purdy, 24, a 2010 graduate of Waverly High School, was found near the north end of the Savage River Loop Trail, according to a press release from the National Park Service.

Authorities believe Purdy, of Portland, Oregon, fell from the trail and suffered a fatal head injury, according to the release. They added that they believe Purdy’s death occurred six days earlier, on April 26, based on his cellphone records.

A search began on Saturday when Purdy's employer notified authorities he did not show up for work.

Purdy played lacrosse for Waverly. He attended college at Illinois Institute of Technology.

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Contact Alexander Alusheff at (517) 388-5973 or aalusheff@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexalusheff.