Man Found In Creek Had Been A Fugitive

A man found dead Sunday in Wolf Lodge Creek was supposed to appear in court in March.

But Timothy P. Williams, 39, never showed up.

Kootenai County sheriff’s officials on Monday identified the Athol, Idaho, resident as the man they pulled from the frigid water of the creek.

It appears Williams’ body had been in the creek for more than a month, said Capt. Ben Wolfinger.

Williams had been charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver. He was supposed to be arraigned March 14.

But Williams did not arrive and his attorney told the judge he had not been able to contact his client, according to court records.

A warrant then was issued for Williams’ arrest.

Capt. Wolfinger said investigators do not know how Williams died.

“Any time you find a body in a creek it’s suspicious,” Wolfinger said.

“Because of the deterioration of his body, it’s going to take an autopsy,” he said.

Allan Gibson, owner of the Wolf Lodge Camp Ground, noticed the body caught in branches and weeds in the creek late Sunday morning.

Four divers from the Kootenai County Dive Rescue Team pulled Williams’ fully dressed body from the water seven miles east of Coeur d’Alene.

Wolfinger said Williams is survived by his wife, Janet Williams. Janet Williams told investigators that she believed her husband was out of town, Wolfinger said.

Last year, Williams checked himself into Kootenai Medical Center with a gunshot wound to his arm, according to a sheriff’s report.

He told police that he had accidentally shot himself but refused to speak more to officers, according to the report.

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