Family of missing Pleasanton runner thanks community for support after body found
PLEASANTON, Calif. (KGO) -- The family of the ultramarathoner who appears to have died 200 yards off a trail in Pleasanton spoke out publicly Thursday for the first time at a press conference.
Philip Kreycik's wife and parents showed their strength and love and emotions as they came together to thank the community for holding them up during the three-week-long search for Philip.
"There really are no words to truly express how difficult this is and how much we appreciate everyone's help. Hug your families because you really don't know what is going to happen in the next moment," said Jen Yao, Philip's wife.
Kreycik's parents and wife later sat down for a one-on-one interview with ABC7 News reporter Leslie Brinkley and shared their personal anguish.
"It's so easy for something to go wrong. It wasn't that particularly dangerous when he first went out. It did get warm in the afternoon. But one wrong instance let him down the wrong path," said Kreycik's parents, Keith and Marcia.
What appears to be Kreyciks's body clothed in his running gear was found in dense brush on a ridgetop on Aug. 3.
They described the moment they got the call Tuesday that he had been found.
RELATED: Police say missing Pleasanton runner may have suffered injury, heat-related stress on trail
"It broke us, but we had each other. It made us really grateful to the people who persisted even though there was not so much hope," said Marcia.
Jen Yao, Kreycik's wife, talked about the biometric watch on her husbands wrist.
"I think that will give us more insight into where he was and what happened.I want to know but I'm also scared to know," said Yao.
Kreycik and his wife Jen live in Berkeley, yet the community of Pleasanton rallied around them and relentlessly searched the Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park where he went for a run three weeks ago -- even after police stopped looking, saying there was nothing more they could do.
RELATED: After 3 weeks of searching, body of missing runner Philip Kreycik found in Pleasanton
"We especially appreciate the people that have come to support us here. The new friends that I just love. I just love the people we have met here," said Marcia Kreycik, Philip's mother.
Philip Kreycik leaves behind an 11-month-old and a 3-year-old.
"Of course our focus is always on the kids. To make this as gentle for them as possible," said Yao.
She said she hasn't told the 3-year-old yet what happened to his dad but promised "we will tell them stories, we will show them pictures and they will grow up knowing what their father was like."
The Kreycik's have not decided yet if they will have a public memorial. They are still awaiting autopsy results.
WATCH: Full press conference on body found in Philip Kreycik case
