Philip Kreycik

Body Found at Pleasanton Park is Confirmed to be Missing Runner

Philip Kreycik disappeared on July 10 while going for a run at Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park

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Family members of Philip Kreycik on Thursday confirmed the body found at Pleasanton Ridge park Tuesday is that of the Berkeley man who went missing July 10.

Kreycik's wife, Jen Yao, and parents, Keith and Marcia Kreycik, made the announcement during a news conference Thursday morning.

"Even when we think we have everything under control, even when we think we're strong and capable, accidents can happen that can really derail us from the course we set ourselves on, from the life we so carefully planned," Yao said through tears. "Life is truly fragile and delicate, and the past three weeks showed me that, crystal clear."

Kreycik's body was found Tuesday, more than three weeks after he went for a run on the park trails and did not return. Massive searches were conducted in the days after he was reported missing, and after a pause in the daily search routines, they resumed last weekend.

On the morning of July 10, Kreycik told his wife he was going for a run at Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park on a day when temperatures neared 100 degrees. His car was found at the park with his wallet, cell phone and a T-shirt inside, but the husband and father was nowhere to be seen.

Around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, a volunteer searching for Kreycik found the body off a game trail in the northern part of the park, authorities said.

Capt. Lance Brede with the East Bay Regional Park District Police Department said the body was found in a "very remote area of the park."

"It's not a designated trail," he said. "It's a game trail. He was located about 250 yards off of that trail near a tree."

Brede added that it appears the area is not used by the public and is not designated for recreation.

"It would not be something that someone would come across," he said.

Authorities and volunteers spent weeks searching with helicopters, drones, thermal cameras, dogs and other tools.

"On behalf of the Pleasanton Police Department, we'd like to extend our sincere condolence to the Kreycik family as well as offer any support we can to the family and friends who've just been searching and spending countless hours looking for Philip," Pleasanton police Lt. Erik Silacci said.

Kreycik, an avid trail runner and outdoorsman, had a clean bill of health, according to those close to him.

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