ST. GEORGE — A hiker believed to be missing for almost 12 days has been found — nearly 8,000 miles away in Australia, Washington County Sheriff Kirk Smith said Tuesday during a news conference with county officials.

The search for Bryan Butas, 35, ended after investigators learned he had boarded a plane Aug. 2 in Los Angeles. From there, said Smith, Butas flew to Sydney, Australia, and then boarded another flight to a city within the province of Queensland.

"He's there. It's definitely him," said Smith. "He got off the plane in Queensland. We've verified it with his passport."

Butas reportedly went hiking by himself July 29 in the Oak Grove Campground area near Leeds, about 25 miles north of St. George.

An intensive search and rescue effort was organized after Butas failed to show up for work. Butas' car, a Chevy Blazer with Florida license plates, was found near the campground, but no other clues were discovered in the area despite a thorough search, said Smith.

Friends of Butas, who were heavily involved in the search, say they were shocked at the news.

"Obviously, we're saddened but definitely happy he's alive," said Tyler Truman, Butas' friend and boss of six years. "We feel a little bit deceived and disappointed that he would do this. We just hope he can find himself, if that is what he is doing."

Truman said there was no indication Butas was planning to run away or to go on any sort of vacation.

"This is not like him at all," Truman said. "He is probably the most responsible person I know as far as morals and ethics go. This kind of thing was definitely not expected from him."

After hearing Butas had been found in Australia, Truman said he and some other friends looked through the windows at Butas' home and saw that nothing was amiss or out of order.

"Everything was like they had left to go to work and come home that same day," he said.

There has been no talk of Butas' status at work, Truman said.

"It's definitely not our concern at this point," he said. "We love Bryan and we want to be able to help him in any way. A job is probably not his concern at this point, either."

Dozens of volunteers, including the missing man's parents, scoured the hillsides during stormy weather. Butas' coworkers, Rocky Mountain Rescue dogs and their handlers, sheriff's deputies, emergency personnel and a private helicopter pilot all aided in the search through overgrown brush and rough terrain.

"This has been our number one department priority, but it won't be nearly the same priority now," the sheriff said. "We're not done with this, even though we know where he is. This is still in the investigative stage and we've yet to determine whether any criminal or civil charges will be filed against him."