Rossmoor Camper’s Body Found in Mojave : Tragedy: Eric C. Knight apparently died of exposure, officials say. He worked at a Long Beach brokerage with his father and was one class short of graduating at Cal State Fullerton.

The body of a 30-year-old Orange County man, missing since he left for an overnight camping trip last weekend, has been found in the Mojave Desert.

Campers on Thursday night discovered the body of Eric Carleton Knight, an experienced camper who appears to have died of exposure, said officials of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.

There is no evidence of foul play, officials said. Temperatures had exceeded 100 degrees daily, and Knight apparently had wandered away from his mountain bike.

“It’s all speculation right now,” said Sgt. Jake Jecusco of the Sheriff’s Department. “We’re still investigating.”

The campers found the body about 8 p.m. while driving up Crucero Road, a dirt road about 1.7 miles off Interstate 40 near Ludlow. Knight’s mountain bike was found 2 1/2 miles away, Jecusco said.

The San Bernardino County coroner’s office is conducting an autopsy, he said.

Knight, who had camped alone in the desert before, left last Saturday and was expected to return Sunday. He did not specify where he was going.

Knight lived with his parents in Rossmoor and worked as an administrative assistant at Diversified Securities Corp. in Long Beach, the same brokerage firm where his father worked.

He attended Cal State Fullerton and was “one class away from graduating,” his father, Paul, said Friday.

“He was really a neat guy. He was the best,” he said through tears. “It’s such a tragedy.”

Knight took care of the neighbors’ pets when they left town and was always available to help, said Alice Anderson, who has lived next door to the Knights since 1973.

“One time, I thought we were burglarized and Eric came over with me and walked through the house with me to make sure everything was OK,” Anderson said. “They don’t deserve trouble in the family. They’re such nice people.”

When Knight failed to show up for work Monday, his father called authorities.

The San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department had been searching for Knight and his Jeep Cherokee by vehicle and helicopter since Tuesday. The Jeep and Knight’s campsite had not been located by Friday night, Jecusco said.

Knight is also survived by his mother, Barbara, and a younger sister, Noel.