Lewis & Clark County Sheriff/Coroner Leo Dutton has identified the kayaker who was found dead near Craig on Saturday, May 24, 2025, as Melvin Scarberry.
"The pathologist from the Montana State Crime Lab determined that Scarberry died from Asphyxia due to drowning," said Dutton in a news release.
He noted that the manner of death was determined to be an accident.
Dutton says that Scarberry, 56 years old, was from Florida.
(MAY 25, 2025) On Saturday, May 24, at 5:20 p.m., the Lewis & Clark County 911 center received a call about a missing kayaker in Craig.
The call was for a 56-year-old man who was missing.
Twenty minutes after the call, a fishing guide and clients found the kayak and body in the water.
Life-saving measures were attempted, but were not successful.
Law enforcement says the official cause and manner of death will be determined after an autopsy is conducted at the Montana State Crime Lab in Missoula.
Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks; Wolf Creek; Craig Volunteer Fire Department; Lewis & Clark County Sheriff’s Office;and St. Peter’s Ambulance responded to the scene.
The identity of the individual has not been released at this time.
We will update you if we get more information.
