John Jones, 26, died on November 25, 2009, after becoming trapped headfirst in a narrow passage in Utah’s Nutty Putty Cave. Rescuers worked for roughly 27 hours but could not safely reach and extract him. Authorities later sealed the cave, leaving his remains inside.
What was Nutty Putty Cave?
Nutty Putty Cave lies near Elberta in Utah County, west of Utah Lake. Dale Green discovered it in 1960. The Salt Lake Tribune described it in a 2018 retrospective as a cave with about 1,400 feet of chutes and tunnels. Its passages and clay-rich environment drew recreational cavers, and it became popular enough that visitors sometimes queued at the entrance. The Salt Lake Tribune’s retrospective recounts the cave’s appeal and history.
The cave had a record of entrapments and rescues before Jones’s death. Following earlier incidents, access was controlled, with the local Timpanogos Grotto involved in managing visits. Its popularity and tight, awkward passages meant that a routine outing could become a difficult rescue.
How John Jones became trapped
On November 24, 2009, Jones was exploring the cave with family and friends when he entered a tight passage and became stuck headfirst. A 911 call brought rescuers to the cave. Contemporary coverage described an operation involving more than 100 volunteers. The Salt Lake Tribune and Deseret News reported that the rescue effort lasted about 27 hours, ending when Jones died on November 25. Deseret News’ contemporary report describes the operation and its outcome.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
#1 Best Overall
Why rescuers could not get him out
The rescue team had to work in extremely confined conditions, through a difficult route, with limited room to position equipment. The Salt Lake Tribune’s retrospective describes attempts to establish a pulley system using climbing cams. Powdery calcite on the rock made it difficult for the cams to hold, and rescuers added pulleys to reduce friction. The report says each trip to carry gear through the passage took nearly an hour.
Drilling was another challenge. According to the Tribune’s account, larger equipment could not be positioned close to Jones, while smaller equipment advanced slowly. The report says rescuers also considered vegetable oil and explosives, but rejected those options. These are reported details of a complex operation, not proof that a different tool or tactic would have changed the outcome.
Brandon Kowallis, a rescuer, wrote an account shortly after the incident. He described it as one perspective and noted that he arrived toward the end of the rescue effort. His recollection offers firsthand context, but it is not a complete official account. Kowallis’s account can be read alongside the newspaper reporting.
Why the cave was closed with Jones inside
After Jones died, Utah County sheriff’s officials decided that recovering his body would expose rescuers to too much danger. Sgt. Spencer Cannon told the Deseret News, “The risk is too high.” Jones’s brother Josh said the family believed John would want to protect future cavers: “We feel that John would want to protect the safety of future cavers.”
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Officials announced that Nutty Putty Cave would be permanently closed. A later report described concrete placed at both the main entrance and an opening near the remains, while distinguishing the permanent seal near Jones from the seal at the main entrance. Undersheriff Mike Forshee explained the reason for the closure: “The reason the cave closed is not that we have a death; it’s that we have an unrecoverable victim.” The December report describes the closure and the different sealing locations.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is Nutty Putty Cave still open?
Officials announced its closure in 2009, and contemporary reporting documented concrete sealing at the entrance and near Jones’s resting place. The sources cited here establish that decision and those actions, but do not independently verify on-site conditions in 2026. Anyone seeking current access information should confirm it with the land manager or sheriff’s office; the cave should not be treated as an open visitor destination.
What the incident record does—and does not—show
The National Speleological Society’s American Caving Accidents report lists the November 24 event as a Utah fatality with the incident type “stuck.” It separately lists a November 25 equipment-problem incident at Nutty Putty Cave. The same report recorded 20 caving incidents in 2009, but that is a count of incidents recorded by the report, not a complete count of all caving accidents or a rate that measures an individual’s risk. The 2009 American Caving Accidents report is an incident log, not a broad safety study.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
