PRIEST LAKE –
SEARCH FOR THE IDENTITY OF A BODY FOUND IN 2004 CONCLUDED.

Left, Gene Ralston on his boat at Indian Creek State Park, on Priest Lake, May 2010.

Left, Gene and Sandy Ralston's Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) approached the rowboat, May 17, 2010, at 313 feet below the lake's surface. (The horizontal bar at the bottom is part of the ROV.) Photo courtesy of Gene and Sandy Ralston

PRESS RELEASE
BONNER COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
September 28, 2010

The Bonner County Sheriff’s Office has concluded its investigation into the remains located on the bottom of Priest Lake, off the tip of Eight Mile Island.

This investigation began in 2004 and has been a very complicated and difficult case. This investigation began when Ralston & Associates, an underwater recovery company, was tasked with locating a lost Kennewick fireman, in August of 2004. Careful examination of a small row boat by the remotely operated underwater vehicle, yielded no positive identifying characteristics or numbers, and as such, the boat could not be identified.

After locating the remains, it was obvious that this was not the Kennewick fireman who we were searching for, but that of presumably another missing person. Between 2004 and September, 2010, the Sheriff’s Office investigators have made every attempt to identify potential victims who are believed to have been lost in Priest Lake. Twelve such victims have been reported to be missing. Between 2004 and September 2010, samples have been taken from the bottom of the lake and sent to Boise State University and other scientific laboratories in the hopes of positively identifying the remains. Scientists were unable to extract any human DNA from the three samples which were retrieved from 322 ft. of water.

The outcome of this investigation is regrettable due to the fact that there are so many surviving members who have lost loved ones in Priest Lake. It was the intent to simply identify and provide closure to the families potentially affected by this incident.

The Bonner County Sheriff’s Office will continue to make every effort to investigate any and all leads involving missing persons in Bonner County.

Contact: Sgt. Gary Johnston (208) 263-8417 ext 3058