There's new information being released about the death of a 79-year-old man whose body was found near Silesia last week.
Jack Butke's death was initially characterized as suspicious after police were unable to locate his car or dog for more than a week.
But authorities in Carbon County now say that Butke apparently drowned after crashing his vehicle into an irrigation ditch. They say as he tried to get out of the car, he was swept into the nearby Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River.
Butke's body was discovered about an eighth of a mile above the river's confluence with the Yellowstone.
He lived alone in Fromberg and suffered from dementia.
(from June 17, 2009)
A missing Fromberg man was found dead Tuesday morning between Silesia and the confluence of Rock Creek River and Clark's Fork of the Yellowstone River join.
Carbon County Sheriff's Office has identified the body as Jack Butke, 79. He was reported missing on Monday and his body was discovered in the river around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday.
The Carbon County Sheriff's Office is calling the death suspicious. Sheriff's Lieutenant Josh McQuillan says they are on the look out for Butke's vehicle, a 1991 gray Subaru Loyale Wagon with a Montana license plate of 10-207.
The vehicle was last seen June 14 in Fromberg around 8:00 p.m. with its front, right blinker light broken out.
Carbon County asks that if anyone knows anything on the whereabouts of the vehicle to call their office at 406-446-1234.
