The death toll has risen after devastating flash floods swept through the Grand Canyon over the weekend. An adventure between three friends from North Texas has now ended in two deaths as a third remains missing.
Granbury natives Brent Rosenkranz, John Giusti and Timothy Smith had ventured to the Grand Canyon together last week intent on hiking 31 miles over four days, according to a Facebook post from Rosenkranz on Thursday, August 27. That was one day before flash floods rushed through the Grand Canyon, destroying bridges and safety zones and causing 15 people to be reported missing.
Giusti, 46, was the first victim identified. While National Park Service officials have not released his name, friends and family have identified him as the body recovered from Crystal Rapids on the Colorado River Sunday evening, August 30. Rosenkranz, 42, was then confirmed among the dead by his wife, Elisha Rosenkranz, via Facebook on Tuesday, September 1. Smith is now the lone person missing amid the National Park Service's search and rescue efforts.
"Together, we created three amazing kids who are the perfect mix of both of our crazy, and I love every bit of them. Each of them carries a part of you, and that makes them even more special to me," Elisha Rosenkranz wrote on Facebook. "Thank you for every adventure, every meal, every laugh, and every hug. Most of all, thank you for giving me the love of a lifetime. You will always be in our hearts."
Carrie Smith, the wife of Timothy Smith, shared the news of Giusti's death on Facebook, writing:
"Thank you for your deep love, prayers, and support as we attempt to navigate this unimaginable loss. Please hold your loved ones a little closer today in John's honor. Search and rescue efforts are still underway for Tim and Brent and all the others still missing. Please continue to pray for all the loved ones, the search and rescue teams, and for the rain to stop."
A GoFundMe has been launched in support of Janet Giusti, his widow, and their three daughters.
"John was living out a lifetime dream exploring the majesty of the Grand Canyon when tragedy struck. On August 29, 2026, a sudden flash flood swept through Bright Angel Creek, tragically taking him from us while he was immersed in an adventure he had longed for. While our grief is as vast and profound as the canyon itself, we find a small comfort in knowing he spent his final moments surrounded by breathtaking beauty, living life to the fullest," Janet Giusti wrote on the GoFundMe page. "To the community, he was a gifted healer. To his friends, a powerhouse of life. To his daughters, he was their ultimate hero. To me, he was my whole world."
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This article originally published at 2 Texas men confirmed killed in devastating Grand Canyon floods.