Human remains recovered from Priest Lake

SANDPOINT — Decades-old human remains were pulled up from the bottom of Priest Lake on Tuesday using a remotely operated submersible, the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office said.

The fragile skeletal remains were found in 327 feet of water off Eightmile Island. They were originally discovered six years ago during an unsuccessful search for a missing sailor from Washington state.

Ralston & Associates, an underwater search and recovery outfit from Kuna,  made attempts at the time to bring the remains to the surface using a remote operated vehicle, but the effort was hampered by rough weather and surface conditions, said Sgt. Gary Johnston.

Underwater video footage from the initial recovery attempt indicated the remains were not those of a recent drowning victim. Sheriff’s officials said on Wednesday the remains are estimated to be anywhere from 50 to 100 years old.

The recovered remains are being sent to Boise State University in hopes of developing a DNA profile that can be checked against samples provided by relatives of people who have gone missing in Priest Lake.

“I would like to talk to family members who have lost a loved one in Priest Lake,” said Johnston.

Johnston said a list of 12 missing persons has been developed from records dating back to the early 1900s, but there are no obvious matches so far.

Ralston & Associates discovered the remains using side-scan sonar in 2004, while searching for a Kennewick man whose sailboat washed up on the island.

“It was quickly discovered that the body was incredibly fragile and broke apart much like caked salt would if it were disturbed,” Gene Ralston said in a report documenting the first recovery attempt.

The body of the missing Kennewick man, Dave Lewis, remains unaccounted for. Lewis, a 54-year-old firefighter and paramedic, is thought to have fallen overboard while sailing, according to an obituary published in the Tri-City Herald in 2005.

• Johnston can be reached at the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office by calling 263-8417 (ext. 3058).