In brief: Information sought on missing woman

The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department is looking for a 51-year-old Hayden woman whose daughter hasn’t heard from her in about two years.

Sheriff’s investigators have checked available databases and found no activity associated with the missing woman, Kathleen Ellen Durkin, since December 2004.

Durkin is 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighs about 180 pounds and has blond-red hair and brown eyes, according to the Sheriff’s Department. She has a tattoo on her left shoulder that says “Julian.”

According to the Sheriff’s Department, Durkin was a known methamphetamine user, and she suffers from lupus. She was reported missing by her daughter, Robyn Ott. Ott, a Coeur d’Alene resident, told investigators she was away from the area for some time and had not heard from her mother in about two years.

Anyone with information on Durkin’s whereabouts is asked to call the sheriff’s department at (208) 446-1300 and ask for Detective Jason Austin.

Boise

Simplot released from hospital

After more than a month of recuperation, billionaire potato magnate J.R. Simplot was released from the Idaho Elks Rehabilitation Hospital on Tuesday and was resting at home, a spokesman said.

Simplot, 98, fell from his motorized wheelchair and hit his head in the University of Phoenix stadium parking lot while returning to his car after Boise State’s Jan. 1 Fiest Bowl victory.

He was having trouble speaking after the injury but has partially regained his speech, said J.R. Simplot Co. spokesman David Cuoio. Doctors anticipate he will continue recovering at home, Cuoio said.

Kalispell, Mont.

Toddler’s death deemed accidental

Authorities on Tuesday concluded there was no foul play in the death of a 3-year-old boy whose body was found in a septic tank near here.

Flathead County Sheriff Mike Meehan said in a brief, written statement that a “complete and thorough” investigation had concluded Loic J.M. Rogers’ death was “accidental.”

“The complete investigation is being turned over to the county attorney’s office for review,” Meehan said. He did not elaborate.