UT MOAB JOHN DOE: WM, 18-25, found in the Arches National Park in Moab, UT - 12 Feb 1983 - Camel cigs, clothes *ROBBY PEAY*

[Romulus]

1718UMUT - Unidentified Male​

Date of Discovery: February 12, 1983
Location of Discovery: Moab, Grand County, Utah
Estimated Date of Death: Approximately two months prior to discovery
State of Remains: Not recognizable - Partial remains with soft tissues
Cause of Death: Gunshot wound to the back of the head

Physical Description
Estimated Age: 18-25 years old
Race: White
Gender: Male
Height: 5'5" to 5'9"
Weight: 132-152 lbs.
Hair Color: Light brown, slightly curled with blond eyelashes, eyebrows and beard stubble.
Eye Color: Unknown
Distinguishing Marks/Features: Unknown.

Identifiers
Dentals: X-rays are available. Teeth #1,16,17 and 32 impacted. All
Fingerprints: Available. RT: AA TT 07 PM PM; LT: AA 01 07 10 13.
DNA: mtDNA and nucDNA available with UNT (ref #11-1131.1).

Clothing & Personal Items
Clothing: Blue jeans (nothing in the pockets), white socks, white baseball cap, and a Van Hussen light blue or lavender colored shirt. No shoes were found.
Jewelry: Unknown.
Additional Personal Items: Partial pack of Camel brand cigarettes.

Circumstances of Discovery
A rancher hiking in the Arches National Park found the decedent's remains.

Investigating Agency(s)
Agency Name: Utah Department of Public Safety / Bureau of Criminal Identification
Agency Contact Person: Gina McNeil
Agency Phone Number: (801) 965-4445
Agency Case Number: 198300156
Agency Name: Grand County Sheriff's Office (UT)
Agency Contact Person:N/A
Agency Phone Number: 435-259-8115
Agency Case Number: 2845

NCIC Case Number: N/A
NamUs Case Number: UP #8196 Former Hot Case Number: 2399

Information Source(s)
NamUs
Deseret News Archive

1718UMUT

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[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Robby Lynn Peay (born August 2, 1965) was a teenager found in Arches National Park in the Three Gossips Area near Moab, Utah, on February 12, 1983. He died after being shot in the head.

He was identified in January 2025.

Detectives had long suspected that the decedent might be 17-year-old Robby Peay, who disappeared after running away from a treatment facility in October 1982. Following his disappearance, police received a tip that he had been living with a 56-year-old man from the Netherlands. Investigators believe he returned there, but have been unable to track him down.

When his body was found, investigators noted a strong resemblance to Robert. However, initial comparisons to his dental records did not yield a match. A break in the case came in 2018 when a detective decided to re-examine the dental records and discovered an error in their entry. Once corrected, the records indicated a near-perfect match between Robert Peay and the decedent.

Despite this breakthrough, a DNA comparison was required for confirmation. Robert was adopted when he was 11 months old, and his biological family couldn't be tracked down. In October 2022, investigators obtained the names of Robert's biological parents and tracked them down for a DNA sample. The identification was finally confirmed in January 2025.