MISSOULA – A body found inside a vehicle at a truck stop west of Missoula is that of a 38-year-old man police wanted to question concerning the disappearance of his girlfriend.
Police told the Montana Standard that on Saturday they found the body of John Goldberg inside his 2010 GMC pickup and that he appears to have shot himself in the head with a semi-automatic pistol. Police said they also found a four-page suicide note, and that Goldberg had been dead for at least a day.
Police are searching for Tammy Salle, a 41-year-old Anaconda resident missing since Dec. 23.
Anaconda Police Chief Tim Barkell said police went through a trash receptacle used by Goldberg and found bloodied towels and what appeared to be pieces of human tissue. He said the items were being sent to the state crime lab.
Police say Salle and Goldberg lived together in Anaconda, but had an argument the evening of Dec. 23. Police said Goldberg told them Salle drove away in a 2009 Pontiac Grand Prix. That vehicle was found Friday with a shredded tire on a frontage road south of Deer Lodge.
Police contacted Goldberg on Wednesday with questions about Salle’s disappearance. Goldberg later disappeared and didn’t answer his cellphone.
The Missoula County sheriff’s department said Goldberg’s body was found at the Crossroads Truck Plaza where Interstate 90 and U.S. Highway 93 meet.
Police said they also found a dog in Goldberg’s vehicle. The dog was taken to an animal shelter.
Police said they will continue the search for Salle, looking in areas where Goldberg liked to camp.