NOTE: specific details regarding relative locations (North, East, South and West) have been disguised to protect location information from public dissemination.

    On July 30, 2004, a report was made to the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office that a sailboat was found aground on Eight Mile Island on Priest Lake. The boat was owned and piloted by a fireman from Kennewick, Washington. An extensive ground, air and water search was conducted, but was unsuccessful.

    We learned of the incident while working on a project in the Tri-cities area and called the Kennewick Fire Department (KFD) to discuss the use of side scan sonar in the search. Following several phone calls and exchange of information with the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office, the KFD requested our assistance. We suggested using water trained search dogs to assist and gave the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office and the KFD the names of several individuals to contact.

    We traveled to Kennewick and met with KFD personnel and the victim’s family to discuss search strategy. Using all the information provided, it was decided to search an area approximately one mile long and one half mile wide along the VZ side of the island.

    We began search operations on August 25th. Water depths in the area were approximately 350 feet and the bottom appeared to be very clean of rocks and debris. We were able to scan at a range of 164 feet and clearly see fish as small as 18 inches. During the mid afternoon, we imaged an object in approximately 347 feet of water which drew our attention. It was not particularly convincing as being our subject, but needed further investigating. We scanned the object multiple times at a range of 66 feet, and some of the images were more convincing than others. Although we could not positively identify it as our subject, we could not rule it out. One deputy suggested it could be a bear, since bears are known to swim across the lake to islands looking for food.

    The following day, Deb Tirmenstein, a search dog handler from Missoula, Montana, arrived with two water trained search dogs to assist. A Priest Lake Search and Rescue person and his Zodiac boat assisted her. She and her dogs covered most of the planned search area and had several very strong alerts to the Z side of the island. During this time a fairly strong wind was blowing consistently from the VX. Late in the AM and again in the PM with a second dog, they briefly worked in the area of the sonar-identified target. Neither dog showed much interest in the area of the sonar-identified object, which was some distance upwind from their area of earlier interest. However, winds were strong and shifting from out of the V, to the X and finally out of the YZ during this time. The side scan sonar search was extended into the area of the strong dog alerts, with nothing of interest being discovered.

    The next day, the winds were light and consistently out of the V. Deb took her dog, Ruby, back into the search area and Ruby showed mild interest in the area of her strong alerts the previous day. However, when Ruby was taken into the area closer to the object discovered by side scan sonar, she absolutely went wild with alerts. Ruby had to be taken out of the area to get her to calm down. She reacted similarly on a subsequent trip into the search area.

    Efforts were made to locate a technical diver willing to dive to the suspicious object in 350 feet of water. It was decided to first try to obtain underwater video of the object before risking a dive to that depth. The Kootenai County dive team was contacted and agreed to assist with their underwater drop camera on August 27th. High winds complicated getting the underwater camera positioned over the object and the dive team agreed to return the following day. Again, winds complicated the search effort for the second day and it was decided to try to locate a remote operated vehicle (ROV) to inspect the object.

    After several possibilities of ROV support were exhausted, including one from the Navy submarine testing facility on Lake Pend Oreille, the use of a small ROV was organized. While the ROV was in transit, side scan operations continued. No new targets were identified.

    The ROV arrived mid-day on September 1st. By the time the ROV could be set up and deployed, the winds had increased, eventually bringing heavy rain and high wind gusts which caused the vessel deploying the ROV to drag its two anchors and the ROV away from the target area.

    The following morning an acoustic target was placed near the object of interest and the ROV deployment vessel was again anchored – this time with three anchors. Although the winds were substantial and threatening weather was again imminent, the anchors held while the ROV was deployed.

    The ROV was equipped with scanning sonar, much like aircraft radar, to help guide it to intended targets. With Gene at the helm of the ROV and a quickly trained KFD fireman, Rusty Bachman, providing guidance using the scanning sonar, the ROV was flown to the object of interest.

    None of the people on board the ROV deployment vessel were prepared for what was about to be discovered. Indeed the object was a human body, not a bear, but it was readily evident that it was not a recent drowning victim. Although it retained all of the form of a human body, it was in an advanced stage of deterioration. Estimates of the length of time underwater ranged from 15 to more than 20 years.

    Following observation and video recording of most of the form and substance, an attempt was made to recover the body. It was quickly discovered that the body was incredibly fragile and broke apart much like caked salt would if it were disturbed. Eventually a small piece of material was recovered using the manipulator arm and jaws and brought to the surface.

    No record of another missing person at this location is known. Although five or six persons are known to remain missing in Priest Lake, none are known to be in this area. The hull of what appears to be a 16-foot long boat was found about 250 feet away from this person. It may be reasonable to assume it is related to this person. Bonner County authorities are searching all available records to assist in discovering the identity of this person.

    We returned to Priest Lake and continued the search September 13th through 17th. We expanded the search area, but did not locate the missing fireman. The search for the missing fireman will continue as time allows.
 
 

THURSDAY, August 26th

    Thursday was a miserable day to work a dog. Reports from a nearby RAWS at Priest Lake, ID indicated that the area received 0.72 inch of precipitation on the 26th. Much of this was received while we were attempting to work the dogs. Reports indicate that winds were consistent out of the V in the early AM hours but had shifted to out of the X by late AM. By the afternoon, winds were out of the YZ and windspeeds had also increased. On Thursday, Ruby began working at about 11:30 AM – noon (MST). She alerted to the “Z” of the island early on as described. At that time the wind appeared to be out of the “V”. Sometime later, after we had finished with the “Z” side of the island, we took Ruby into the area that contained the target Gene had located. After lunch (after 3:30 - 4:00 PM or so) we began working Fergus in this general area too. Neither dog alerted. The boat operator made several short passes to the “Y” of the target area or perhaps very near the target area.

    On Thursday I was not able to grid very effectively at times. The boat operator was not familiar with water dogs and tended to run parallel to the wind, with the wind often at our backs. The boat’s speed was too high at many times for us to feel comfortable with our coverage (up to 35 mph!). I believe our coverage could have been much better. At times the weather conditions were not favorable and shifting winds may have prevented us from adequately covering the target area.

FRIDAY, August 27th

    On Friday, I was not able to get started until almost 2:30 PM due to mechanical problems with the boat and associated logistical difficulties. Jamie joined us on Friday. We began working in the “YX” part of Cavanaugh Bay and, with Jamie’s help, were able to grid effectively with benefit of the wind. She was able to direct the boat operator and keep the speed to less than 5 mph while searching. Our coverage was very much improved and the weather conditions were also quite good. The winds seemed to be consistently out of the “V” at an estimated 0-6 mph. Ruby alerted in the vicinity of the target as Gene described.

SATURDAY, August 28th

    A member of the local SAR team wanted Ruby to revisit the area of the previous day’s alert to demonstrate “an alert” to his teammates. Various people were arriving at different times and he originally wanted us to return to that area several times on Saturday. I explained that it was hard on Ruby and hard on me too! I agreed to take Ruby back to the target area once so the local team could view our work. We worked Ruby from about 11:30 AM to ~12:30 PM. Winds were again consistent from the “V” at approximately 3-6 mph. Conditions were again very favorable.

    During this return trip, I did everything I could to avoid cueing Ruby in any way. I did not give her any specific commands and Vince, the boat operator, took us into this area from a completely different direction. Vince was able to grid slowly and carefully. Ruby again alerted in the vicinity of the target Gene had observed on his sonar. This alert was even stronger than her alert on Friday. Ruby’s main focus was just to the “Y” (downwind) of the target area. In addition to barking and clawing at the water, Ruby also grabbed a rope in Vince’s boat and began tugging as we went to the “V” of the target. I interpreted this as some type of “self-rewarding” behavior since I had not acknowledged her behavior in any way.

    We switched boats after lunch and began to grid a bit farther to the “Z”. The boat that we (Fergus, Deb, and Jamie) were in during the PM was quite high off of the water which made working much more difficult for the dog. We had no alerts or interest. Later in the day (around 2:30-3:00 PM), we worked slowly back into the target area with Fergus. At this time, the wind seemed to be out of the “V” or “VZ”. Fergus alerted in the same area as Ruby had previously alerted. However, her alert here was very subtle.

    Fergus reacts in a subtle way if the scent source is subtle or more faint. If it is stronger, her reaction is typically less subtle. Ruby reacts somewhat differently. If she “determines” that she has scent her reaction tends to be “full-blown” regardless of how faint or strong the scent source. Both dogs were trained in the same way but somehow react a little differently.