BUTTE — A suicide note left by an Anaconda man gives no indication of the fate of his girlfriend who has been missing for more than a week, said law enforcement officers in southwestern Montana.
Authorities found the body of John Goldberg, 38, on Saturday inside his truck at a travel plaza. He died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Missoula County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Jason Johnson told the Montana Standard on Monday that the four-page letter left by Goldberg mentions Tammy Salle, 43, but says nothing about her fate.
Investigators had talked to Goldberg about Salle’s disappearance before he died, with Goldberg reporting that Salle had left in his car after the couple argued on Dec. 23. Salle’s adult daughter reported her missing three days later.
Police in Anaconda said they found bloodied towels and throw rugs and what appeared to be human tissue in a trash receptacle used by Goldberg, and law enforcement officers called him several times to bring him in for questioning before he died but said he stopped answering his cellphone.
Johnson said Goldberg’s remains have been sent to the state crime lab in Missoula, where examiners will check for any DNA evidence that could link him to Salle’s disappearance.
Anaconda Police Chief Tim Barkell said officers were continuing to search for Salle, particularly in the mountains around Anaconda where Goldberg routinely camped and hunted.
“We’re going to keep searching as long as we can until we find something,” Barkell said.