Developing Story

Body of missing cowboy found

Posted: Sep 18, 2012 7:05 AM by Q2 News
Updated: Sep 18, 2012 4:24 PM

UPDATE: BIG HORN - The search for the missing man near Hysham has ended. 26-year-old Luke Herring was found dead Monday afternoon.

He was found west of the Myers Bridge near Hysham. The body spotted by a helicopter that was helping in the search.

Herrring was first reported missing last Tuesday, when he failed to return to the ranch where he was working.

Authorities believe Herring was trying to recover some cattle stranded on a island in the Yellowstone River when he disappeared. Herring's horse was found dead in the river last Friday, but until today there was no sign of Herring.

Sheriff Robison says Herring's body was recovered about a mile from where authorities believe he may have been trying to cross the Yellowstone.

The search for Herring scoured a 12 mile stretch of the Yellowstone, including a team of divers from Gallatin County, along with search dogs, and underwater cameras.

Robison says an autopsy is scheduled for tomorrow to determine the exact cause of death.

FIRST REPORT

BIG HORN - The Treasure County Sheriff's Office is still searching for a 26-year-old Wisconsin man believed to have been swept away by the Yellowstone River earlier this week while he was herding cattle.

As the days go on, search parties are not giving up hope.

They have plenty of obstacles to overcome including fast waters and thick brush. Another obstacle includes the presence of hunters and fishermen, despite a ban being in place in the search area. Today they ran into fishermen which threw off the scent for ten rescue dogs searching the banks. However, search organizers tell us that the issue has been fixed.

Luke Herring was reported missing at about 7 p.m. Tuesday when he failed to return to the ranch that he is employed at, Treasure County Sheriff Wayne Robinson told Q2. Herring's horse was found dead in the river Tuesday night about a quarter mile downstream from the river crossing that Herring would have used.

Search and rescue teams from Treasure, Stillwater and Rosebued counties, along with officials from the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks are conducting the search. Ground crews are using search dogs, boats, and jet skis to search the river, while planes are being used to search from above.

The search area spans 14 miles along the Yellowstone River from Big Horn to Hysham.

In an effort to help the dogs pick up the scent, authorities have closed the area to hunting and fishing.

The victim's family from Wisconsin, along with his girlfriend's family, are in Montana helping with the search.

Q2 has a crew on scene and will continue providing information as it becomes available.