Man in ‘Montana Meth’ documentary found dead in river

BILLINGS – A 24-year-old man whose body was found in the Missouri River behind Black Eagle Dam was featured in the 2006 HBO documentary “Montana Meth.”

Toward the end of the film, the then-16-year-old Graham Macker is asked by his mother, “How does it end?”

Macker says, “I don’t know.”

On Wednesday his body was found as PPL Montana workers broke up ice near the dam. Cascade County officials said he drowned.

“Our condolences, thoughts and prayers go out to his family,” Amy Rue, executive director of the Montana Meth Project, told the Billings Gazette on Friday.

On Nov. 14, Macker was reported as a walk-away from the prerelease center. It was suspected that he hid in vegetation along the south side of the Missouri River. An organized search failed to find Macker.

Macker had been sent to the prerelease center for probation violations relating to 2009 forgery and bad-check charges in Kalispell.

“He was a son, a brother and a wonderful friend to so many people,” Rue said. “There is so much more to Graham than just this one experience.”

Rue said she was grateful Macker took part in the documentary and spoke about his troubles.

“Countless teens have learned as a result of learning his life story,” she said.