Body recovered from Flathead River

According to a press release issued by Lake County Sheriff Don Bell Wednesday, a body believed to be that of 23-year-old, Richard Mitchell of Minatare, Nebraska was recovered from the Flathead River about 10 miles downriver from Buffalo Bridge. The body was discovered by a fisherman around 4 p.m. on June 27 and was located and recovered using a Flathead Tribal Fish and Game boat. The body has been sent to the Montana State Crime lab to be autopsied and positively identified.

As reported previously, Mitchell and companions Marissa Scott and Nathaniel Garcia, also of Nebraska, had been visiting the Seli’š Ksanka Qlispe’ (SKQ) Dam (formerly known as Kerr Dam) near Polson May 31, when the trio ignored warning signs of the steep slope and the river’s swift waters and dangerous currents and climbed down a closed section of the cliffs below the dam overlook. Mitchell slipped and fell into the river.

After bystanders called 911 for the shaken and terrified companions, great efforts were employed immediately and over the following days to search for Mitchell. The dam’s operating company, Energy Keepers Inc., reduced discharge rates for two hours to help bring down the water levels and teams from Lake County, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Fish and Game, the Montana Dept. of Natural Resources and Conservation and a helicopter crew from Two Bear Air combined forces in the search.

Despite the use of a helicopter, underwater cameras, a cadaver dog and much human effort, searchers were unable to locate Mitchell. High waters created a significant challenge to locating Mitchell’s body. If the body discovered Tuesday is Mitchell’s, it will have traveled approximately 17 miles down the Flathead River from the point where the young man plummeted into the raging waters.