Coroner’s Office asks for public’s help in cold case

Big Horn County Coroner’s Office is reopening a 53-year-old cold case and asking the public for any information that may be beneficial to the investigation. 

“There is little documented information to go on in this case.  No law enforcement report could be located.  Only a Coroner’s Verdict was discovered,” Chief Deputy Coroner Bill Brenner wrote in a post on the office’s Facebook page. 

Available information states a body was reported floating in Greybull River 8 miles west of Basin, 50 feet north of the Greybull River Bridge on U.S. Highway 30 on July 10, 1973. Coroners and Sheriff’s deputies responded and located a deceased male, estimated age 18-26 years old, floating in the river.  The decedent was approximately 66 to 67 inches tall, and estimated weight was recorded at 150 to 160 pounds, but because of autolysis and decomposition, that could be many pounds inaccurate, the Coroner’s Office stated.  The decedent was reported to have brown hair and brown eyes, and a red colored mustache.  The decedent was dressed in blue and white cut-off striped pants, and possibly a polo shirt.  He had been in the water for several days and nights.

Evidence collected from the riverbank includes a 14-karat gold ring with a bird’s head, initials MK and a diamond; a pair of leather moccasins with rubber soles; a pair of prescription Ray-Ban sunglasses; and one pack of Marlboro cigarettes with seventeen cigarettes still unsmoked in the pack.  

A citizen reported seeing several young men swimming in that area several days prior.  According to the information available to the Coroner’s Office, there was no vehicle located, no wallet, identification, and no personal belongings other than what was found on the banks

“This death was certainly suspicious in nature and possibly could be a homicide,” Brenner wrote. “We are asking for anyone to come forward if you have any information concerning this case... Our goal is to identify the decedent and bring justice in his case if it is needed. “

The decedent is currently buried at the Basin Cemetery as a John Doe. The case has been uploaded into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System.