Report Clears Stepson In Hunter’s Death Autopsy Shows Pinehurst Man Died Of Hypothermia Last November

A Pinehurst hunter whose body was found two months ago in the woods north of Enaville died of hypothermia, according to autopsy results released Wednesday.

The autopsy showed George Saunders, 54, had four broken ribs but no life-threatening injuries when searchers found his body in thick brush at the bottom of the Coeur d’Alene River drainage on June 7, said Shoshone County Sheriff Dan Schierman.

Saunders had been missing since Nov. 14. He and stepson Mike Brown were on a hunting trip when their truck rolled down an embankment. Brown told deputies he then helped Saunders up to the road. His stepfather left him there and went to seek help.

Brown told deputies he stayed the night inside the truck’s cab and set out for help when Saunders did not return, winding up at the Enaville Resort. Searchers found no sign of Saunders in November because of heavy snow, but found his body in June about 50 feet below the wrecked pickup, said Cpl. Mitch Alexander.

The discovery of the body so close to the wreckage started an investigation into Saunders’ death that included questioning Brown. Deputies last talked to Brown on July 2, two days before a memorial service for his stepfather, Alexander said.

Deputies decided not to seek charges after meeting with the prosecuting attorney, Schierman said.

Saunders’ death and the subsequent investigation “split the family up,” Alexander said.

The investigation left deputies unable to determine why the two men did not cross paths when Saunders returned to the crash site and why the clothes Brown told them Saunders was wearing were found in the truck. However, Schierman said he was satisfied with the findings.

Brown passed a lie-detector test and the autopsy performed by Dr. George Lindholm of Spokane found no signs of foul play, Schierman said.

“We don’t have any evidence that would support anything other than the findings of the autopsy,” Schierman said.

Brown could not be reached for comment and neighbors said Saunders’ widow, Barbara, has moved out of the Pinehurst home she and her husband shared.

, DataTimes