SALT LAKE CITY — A man from Wyoming who had gone missing and was later spotted on a news segment in Salt Lake City has sadly passed away shortly after returning to his home. Michael Black, aged 91, suffered from dementia and became ill shortly after reuniting with his wife, Avril Black, 77, in Afton, Wyoming.

After they made the trip back home, Michael developed influenza. “I knew something wasn’t right,” Avril Black shared with KSL-TV. “The medical staff indicated that he could be discharged, but his health wasn’t expected to improve. He had underlying issues with his heart and kidneys.” Just a week after returning from Utah, he collapsed and died on Thursday.

Michael Black had gone missing on November 25 and managed to hitchhike over 200 miles to Salt Lake City. His whereabouts came to light thanks to various tips that aided police in tracking his journey. By November 27, he arrived at a rescue mission in Salt Lake City. KSL-TV captured a Thanksgiving segment at the shelter, which was seen by Avril Black that evening.

Recognizing her husband among a crowd at the mission, she set out to Salt Lake City to bring him home for Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, after returning, Michael’s health worsened with a persistent cough, leading to hospice care at home, as noted by his wife.

“He had lived a full life, and though it was his time, he experienced an adventure that he seemed to enjoy,” Avril reflected. “That’s part of life, I suppose. Maybe now he’s in a better place.” The couple celebrated 47 years of marriage together.