The Latest: Authorities find body of missing snowmobiler

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The Latest on the search for a missing snowmobiler in Alaska (all times local):

4:50 p.m. Saturday

Authorities say they have found the body of a snowmobiler who had gone missing, the Anchorage Daily News reports .

The body of Vanton Pettigen, 66, was discovered Saturday in Big Lake north of Anchorage, the Daily News says.

On Friday, Anchorage television station KTUU reported the body of his wife, LaVerne Pettigen, 64, was found in Big Lake.

Alaska State Troopers spokeswoman Megan Peters said troopers used sonar and a remotely operated vehicle to find the woman, who went missing with her husband nearly a week ago.

The couple had planned an afternoon ride Dec. 14 out of Big Lake.

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Friday

The body of a missing snowmobiler has been found, but the search continues for the woman’s missing husband.

Anchorage television station KTUU reports the body of LaVerne Pettigen was found Friday in Big Lake north of Anchorage.

Alaska State Troopers spokeswoman Megan Peters says troopers used sonar and a remotely operated vehicle to find the woman, who went missing with her husband, Van Pettigen, nearly a week ago.

The couple had planned an afternoon ride Dec. 14 out of Big Lake. A daughter, LaTisha Pettigen, has said she spoke to her father by phone Friday and her mother left a voice message Sunday morning.

Dozens of volunteers have participated in the search for the couple.

Peters says the search for Van Pettigen would continue Friday and likely resume Saturday.

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Information from: Anchorage Daily News, http://www.adn.com