Body Of Mine Worker Recovered From River

The body of a Thompson Creek Mine worker has been pulled from Idaho’s Salmon River eight months after he disappeared following the memorial service of a friend who purportedly died the same way.

The body of James Engle, 37, was recovered about 35 miles south of Salmon last week.

Engle, who worked at the mine but was expecting to join his wife, Denise, in Logan, Utah, was reported missing last September after he attended the memorial service for Colin Hardinger, a co-worker and fellow recreational gold panner.

Hardinger’s car was found in the Salmon River on June 6, 1996, after a passing motorist spotted skid marks leading off the road and into the water. His body was never recovered.

According to the sheriff’s reports, Engle was last seen Sept. 19 in a Clayton bar by Shannon Watkins, who said Engle told him he was going to Salmon to pan for gold.

Watkins reported Engle missing three days later after he failed to show up for a shift at the Thompson Creek Mine.

Ron Engle said his son’s body was recovered after someone driving along the river spotted it floating in the water and followed it downstream for several miles. Officials said the body was likely dislodged by spring runoff. , DataTimes