Missing rafter found dead near north end of Yankee Jim Canyon
Posted: Jul 13, 2018
Press Release from Park County Sheriff's Office, Montana
UPDATE: The deceased rafter has been identified as 49 year old Everett Shirtloff from Ellicott City, Maryland according to Park County Undersheriff Clay Herbst. The Park County Sheriff's Office said "We wish to express our heartfelt condolences to his friends and family" in a statement released Friday.
UPDATE: The missing rafter was found dead around 10:30 Friday morning. According to Sheriff Scott Hamilton, the rafter was found along the river bank near the north end of Yankee Jim Canyon. He said the immediate family has been notified but will be withholding the name until additional notifications are made.
On 7/12/18 at approximately 1940 hours, Park County Dispatch received a report of a person floating in the river near Yankee Jim canyon and the Carbella fishing access area. The individual appeared to be unconscious. Deputies, Fire and SAR members responded to the area. Reach Air responded and flew over the river. Before the boat and boat operator were on scene it got dark. Search activities were suspended due to lack of light and safety concerns.
The search resumed this morning with a SAR boat and crew as well as searching from the air by Reach helicopter. Deputy Tad Dykstra will IC the SAR today.
Additional information is that a party of three launched a raft at the Joe Brown access. In the Yankee Jim Canyon the raft flipped and the missing individual was last seen floating away. He is described as a Caucasian male, 6’2” 230#, brown hair, blue eyes, wearing khaki pants or shorts, unknown shirt, sandals or water shoes, and a blue and black life jacket.
If located please call Park County 911 Dispatch Center at 406-222-2050.
Yellowstone River-Missing Rafter Story
Correction: Yellowstone River-Missing Rafter story.
July 17, 2018,
Correction: Yellowstone River-Missing Rafter Story
LIVINGSTON, MONT. (AP) — In a story July 13 about the death of a rafter, The Associated Press, based on information provided by the Park County Sheriff's Office, erroneously identified the victim as Everett Shirtliff of Ellicott City, Maryland. The victim's name was Mark Shirtliff.
A corrected version of the story is below:
Missing rafter found dead in Yellowstone River
Park County officials say a rafter who was reported missing in the Yellowstone River on Thursday evening was found dead Friday morning
LIVINGSTON, Mont. (AP) — Officials in southern Montana say a rafter who was reported missing on the Yellowstone River has been found dead.
Park County Sheriff Scott Hamilton says the man's body was located at about 10:30 a.m. Friday along the river bank near the north end of Yankee Jim Canyon, north of Yellowstone National Park.
The sheriff's office identified the man as 49-year-old Mark Shirtliff of Ellicott City, Maryland.
Authorities received a report at about 7:40 p.m. Thursday from people who saw an apparently unconscious man floating in the river.
Officers later learned three people had launched a raft at a fishing access about 20 miles (32 kilometers) north of the park and the raft flipped. The missing man was last seen floating away.
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