Sheriff’s Office

Lincoln County Montana 512 California Avenue

Libby MT 59923
1 Sheriff Darren Short 406.293.4112
Undersheriff Brent Faulkner Fax 406.293.3171

*Update*
News Release
Contact: Sheriff Darren Short July 21, 2023

At approximately 5:00 pm on July 19, 2023, deputies from the Lincoln County
Sheriff’s Office and Can-Am Search and Rescue responded to a report that a
body was seen in the Pinkham Creek area of Lake Koocanusa. Divers were
able to recover the body which was positively identified as Johnathan Orr.

I would like to thank all who were involved in the search and recovery.

Missing Person / Eureka, Montana

At approximately 8:07 pm on July 16, 2023, Eureka Area Dispatch received a

call that a male had jumped off a cliff into Koocanusa Reservoir near Pinkham
Creek and had not resurfaced. The male was identified as 47-year-old Johnathan
Orr.

Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) deputies and Can-Am Search and Rescue
(CASAR) were dispatched to the scene. Upon arrival, deputies were told that Orr
had been sitting near the water watching others jump from the cliff. Orr swam
across the inlet and climbed the cliff to the top, approximately 90 feet above the
water and then jumped. One of the males who watched the jump immediately
swam to the area of impact and searched for Orr but he didn’t resurface.

Can-Am Search and Rescue arrived with two boats and two jet skis and searched
the area until dark but did not see Orr. The search was resumed the following
morning and continued throughout the day including divers and boats. The search
was still unsuccessful.

On 07/18/2023, canines from David Thompson Search and Rescue and CASAR
responded to attempt to locate Orr. Additional divers from Flathead Search and
Rescue along with a remote operated vehicle responded and searched the area
indicated by the canines but were also unsuccessful.

The search for the missing male is ongoing.

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