As night fell, Sorger's mother began searching for Craig because he had not returned quickly as she had instructed. While searching, she visited Savoie's residence, where she found that Savoie and Eakin had already returned home, although Craig was no longer with them. She then called 9-1-1 and went to search the park, where she was joined by Savoie and his parents, and members of the Ephrata Police Department. A police officer soon discovered Sorger's dead body in a pile of leaves near a trail in the park.