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Montana
May 8, 2004 21:05:05 GMT -5
Post by LadyBlue on May 8, 2004 21:05:05 GMT -5
ANACONDA (AP) - Human remains believed to be those of a missing Missoula hiker were found Sunday by two hikers in the Lost Creek Falls area near here.
Anaconda-Deer Lodge Coroner Rex Lewis said the remains were those of a young man but a positive identification had not been made. He said the body would be sent to the state crime lab in Missoula for an autopsy to determine official cause of death.
Chief of Law Enforcement Tom Blaz said the remains were found about a mile west of the falls and off the hiking trail at Lost Creek State Park.
The roughly 10-mile long canyon begins three miles north of Anaconda. Dozens of volunteers, canine units and helicopters from Great Falls and Helena searched four days in the area for Chad Houtchens in late December and early January before calling off the effort because of snow and cold temperatures.
Houtchens, 21, had not been seen since Christmas Day when he told relatives in Deer Lodge that he was going for a hike at Lost Creek on his way home to Missoula. His car was found near the entrance to Lost Creek Falls three days later.
Houtchens attended the University of Montana last fall but didn't plan to attend during spring semester.
Officials said Houtchens had hiked in the area since he was a child but he was not prepared to stay overnight in winter weather.
Posted at 8:00 a.m. May 3 By the Associated Press
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