Trapped Beneath Utah: The Haunting True Story of John Edward Jones and Nutty Putty Cave
Deep beneath the dusty terrain southwest of Utah Lake lies Nutty Putty Cave—sealed off forever, its entrance filled with concrete. Inside, entombed in the cold, winding limestone passageways, remains the body of John Edward Jones, a young medical student, father, and avid cave explorer whose final descent would become one of the most haunting caving tragedies in modern history.
A Family of Adventurers
John Edward Jones was born into a family that loved adventure. As a child, he often explored caves alongside his father and brother, Josh. Growing up in Utah, spelunking became more than a hobby; it was a shared passion that deepened their bond. John, bright and full of life, carried those childhood memories with him as he pursued his education and built a family of his own.
In November 2009, during the Thanksgiving holiday, John returned home and decided to revisit those memories. With Josh and a group of friends, he set out to explore Nutty Putty Cave, a popular and intricate cave system known for its tight, serpentine crawl spaces and narrow twists—some just barely wide enough for a human body.
Into the Darkness
On the evening of November 24, 2009, John descended into the cave. He believed he was entering a passage known as the “Birth Canal”—a notoriously tight crawl—but took a wrong turn into an uncharted crevice. He wormed his way into a downward, vertical shaft just 10 inches wide and 18 inches high.
At about 100 feet underground, he became stuck—headfirst, upside down. His arms pinned, his body wedged, John was trapped in a vertical fissure with no way to reposition himself.
What followed was a nightmare.
A Race Against Time
Rescue crews arrived quickly and began a painstaking effort to save John. But the angles, the tightness of the space, and the surrounding fragile rock made extraction almost impossible. Dozens of rescuers worked in rotating shifts over 27 grueling hours, trying to hoist him out using a complex pulley system. At one point, he was lifted several feet, only for the rigging to fail—dropping him back into the hole.
All the while, John remained conscious, prayerful, and hopeful. He spoke with rescuers. He talked about his wife and his one-year-old daughter. He tried to remain brave. But upside down for hours, his body began to fail. The human body is not designed to be inverted for extended periods—blood pooled, organs were compressed, and John’s breathing became labored.
Eventually, he lost consciousness. On November 25th, 2009, John Edward Jones was declared dead.
A Tomb of Stone
His body was too deeply wedged to recover. With great sorrow and respect, the decision was made to seal the cave permanently. John’s final resting place remains within Nutty Putty Cave, now filled with concrete, a solemn monument to a life lost in pursuit of wonder.
The story of John Edward Jones has since become a cautionary tale in the spelunking community. Nutty Putty Cave, once a popular spot for daring explorers, is now closed to the public. His death sparked debates about cave safety, rescue limitations, and the risks that come with extreme adventure.
A Legacy of Caution and Compassion
John’s story is not just one of tragedy—it is also one of incredible bravery, human effort, and the love of a family that never gave up. His brother Josh, who was there that night, never forgot the image of John’s feet protruding from the narrow passage, or the helplessness he felt as rescuers fought the clock and the cave itself.
Today, John’s story reminds us of both the thrill and the peril of the underground world. It urges future explorers to prepare thoroughly, respect the limits of nature, and cherish every breath above ground.
In Memory of John Edward Jones (1983–2009)
Forever resting beneath the Utah earth he loved to explore.
