Sunday, April 27, 2025
57.0°F

Death investigation continues

Brian Walker | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 15 years AGO
by Brian Walker
| March 30, 2010 9:00 PM

POST FALLS - The body found in the Spokane River near the state line on Saturday appears to be that of a white male possibly between the ages of 20 and 35 with several distinctive tattoos and has been in the water for at least several weeks.

The body has not been identified and no cause of death has been determined, Kootenai County Sheriff's Department Maj. Ben Wolfinger said. An autopsy is scheduled for today.

"We should know more after that," Wolfinger said. "We're treating it like a homicide until we can prove it differently."

Wolfinger said there are no reported missing persons in Kootenai County that fit the description of the found body, but the sheriff's office is collaborating with neighboring agencies on the case.

The sheriff's department did not release what the tattoos on the body are of, where they're at on the body or specific clothing or appearance descriptions.

"There is no identification on the body even though the body was wearing clothes indicative of cooler weather," Wolfinger said, adding he was wearing a coat and pants.

Wolfinger said it's unclear whether the body entered the water where it was found near Richards Road and West Riverview Drive on the Idaho side or farther upstream.

It appears the body has been in the water at least several weeks, if not months, Wolfinger said.

It was found and reported by a man who was walking in the area before 8 a.m. on Saturday.

"The guy thought it was just clothes, but then realized it was a body and called us," Wolfinger said, adding that it was in a shallow area of the river.

There were no obvious signs of foul play, partially due to it being in the water that long. No clues such as a vehicle or materials the man may have been carrying were found near the body.

Further information will be released as it becomes available.

Those with information are asked to contact Det. Jerry Northrup at 446-1300.

MORE IMPORTED STORIES

PF man drowns at Corbin Park
Coeur d'Alene Press | Updated 12 years, 9 months ago
Help sought to identify dead man
Columbia Basin Herald | Updated 16 years, 2 months ago
Drowning victim recalled for always helping others
Coeur d'Alene Press | Updated 14 years, 10 months ago

ARTICLES BY BRIAN WALKER

Two arrests made in heroin trafficking case
November 27, 2018 5:56 p.m.

Two arrests made in heroin trafficking case

POST FALLS — Two Shoshone County men were arrested in a heroin trafficking case during a traffic stop on Interstate 90 at Post Falls last week.

Ingraham charged with first-degree murder
January 15, 2016 2 a.m.

Ingraham charged with first-degree murder

The 20-year-old nephew of a Post Falls man found dead in Boundary County in September has been charged with first-degree murder of his uncle.

January 20, 2013 6 a.m.

Is arming teachers a good idea or over-reaction?

No movement in region to go that route to enhance school safety

While the idea of arming teachers, as a means to increase school safety, is catching on in some areas, there’s no such momentum in Kootenai County.