Sheriff: Former Idaho candidate’s wife died of dehydration

BOISE, Idaho – Authorities said the wife of a southwestern Idaho man whose fringe run for Idaho governor resulted in a Republican primary debate that drew national attention died due to dehydration.

Shoshone County Sheriff Mike Gunderson told the Idaho Statesman in a story on Wednesday that an autopsy confirmed the cause of death in August of 74-year-old Virginia Bayes.

Her husband, 79-year-old Walt Bayes of Emmett, was rescued in the area by a crew battling a wildfire.

Gunderson said the couple was camping but got separated when Walt Bayes went to get water and his wife disappeared.

Gunderson said Walt Bayes searched for her for five or six days.

Walt Bayes and another fringe candidate named Harley Brown stole the show from Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter and then-state Sen. Russ Fulcher in a 2014 primary debate viewed as over the top even by Gem State standards.