Montana
Missing Missoula man’s body found south of Hamilton
HAMILTON, Mont. — The Ravalli County sheriff says searchers found a 30-year-old Missoula man dead in the Sleeping Child drainage south of Hamilton after he was reported missing since Sunday.
Sheriff Steve Holton identified the man as Richard Jeffrey McGowan.
Forest Service law enforcement located McGowan’s vehicle Tuesday, prompting the Ravalli County Sheriff’s Office and Ravalli County Search and Rescue to begin searching the area.
The search effort was aided by drones and a National Guard helicopter from Malmstrom Air Force Base.
Searchers found McGowan at the base of a rock face, and a preliminary investigation indicates he was the victim of an accidental fall while rock climbing, Holton said.