The FBI launched a criminal investigation into the death of a 25-year-old Kalispell man whose body was discovered in Glacier National Park four days after he disappeared under mysterious circumstances.
Cody Lee Johnson’s body was recovered the morning of July 12 near The Loop along the Going-to-the-Sun Road, according to a statement from park officials. The discovery came days after he was reported missing by family members, who last saw him leaving his home in a dark-colored passenger car with “unidentified friends.”
The FBI, National Park Service, Kalispell Police Department and Flathead County Sheriff’s Office are coordinating the investigation into the circumstances surrounding Johnson’s death. Anyone who may have information is encouraged to contact the park at (406) 888-7801.
The police department alerted the public to the search for Johnson on July 10 after he was reported missing. Johnson was last seen at his home in Kalispell on July 7. His family did not see him again after he reportedly left in the dark-colored passenger car. Investigators don’t know where Johnson intended to go, but information obtained during the investigation suggests he accompanied the unidentified occupants of the car into the vicinity of the West Glacier or Hungry Horse area. Friends and family were unable to contact Johnson after he disappeared.
Flathead County Undersheriff Dave Leib said Johnson’s body was transported on July 15 to the State Crime Lab in Missoula for an autopsy.
“Hopefully we will get some answers from that,” Leib said.
The FBI became involved in the investigation when other agencies could not immediately rule out foul play as a cause of death, Leib said.
“The fact that he disappeared one night just kind of out of the blue and was found without reason at the bottom of a gully up in the park leaves a lot of unanswered questions,” Leib said. “Without being able to say anything else, we need to answer those questions.”
On July 12, around 9:45 a.m., park dispatch received a report of a body located just below The Loop, a popular point along the Sun Road on the west side of the park. Due to the steep and rocky terrain, a helicopter and specialized short-haul rescue team from Parks Canada assisted with the recovery of the body, along with the police department, the sheriff’s office and FBI.
The discovery of Johnson’s body marked the second death in Glacier Park last week and the third this summer.
On Tuesday, July 9, Cesar Flores, Jr. of Davie, Fla., died while climbing Apikuni Mountain.He fell roughly 1,000 feet.
On Wednesday, June 26, Charles Fred Huseman of Packwood, Wash., was hiking along the Highline Trail near Logan Pass when he slipped and fell to his death on to the Sun Road.