Retrieved Body Was Missing Kayaker

The body of a man found Saturday floating in the Snake River south of Lewiston was identified as that of a kayaker who drowned about 50 miles east of Riggins May 12.

Jon Stroop, undersheriff for the Idaho County Sheriff’s Department, said Monday that the body found in the Snake River was that of Joel Hathhorn, 31, of Caldwell.

Hathhorn had been kayaking with two companions on Warren Creek May 12 when he slipped into a rapid and was swept away. His companions searched for him, then kayaked to a phone to notify authorities.

At the time the water was so high and swift, searchers were unable to do anything but scan the area by air.

Two days later Hathhorn’s body was seen near Vinegar Creek, about 27 miles downstream from the mouth of Warren Creek. He was wearing a helmet and a lifejacket, but his body was mostly submerged, the witnesses said. They were unable to retrieve him.

Stroop said Hathhorn’s body was seen Saturday by some boaters near Cache Creek on the Snake River, about 10 miles south of Lewiston.

His body was badly decomposed and unidentifiable until an autopsy was performed Monday and dental records were compared.