After more than a week of extensive searching by volunteers and law enforcement, a missing Cody man was found deceased Tuesday morning.
The body of David Kelsey, 50, was found in Beck Lake and recovered with the assistance of Park County Search and Rescue, the Cody Police Department reports.
The investigation into Kelsey’s death is ongoing, but at this time there’s no evidence to indicate there was foul play, the CPD said in a statement.
It’s believed that Kelsey left his home on Central Avenue in Cody on foot at some point late Friday evening Jan. 23, or early Saturday, morning as temperatures plunged below zero.
In the meantime, local law enforcement and volunteers from the community have been exhaustively searching since he disappeared.
One of those searchers was Bill Dohse with Find-911, a Wyoming-based private search agency that provides drones, dogs and boots-on-the-ground searches for families and law enforcement.
He led a search group Sunday afternoon with Kelsey’s family and other volunteers.
He said Kelsey’s family is understandably devastated by the outcome, though Dohse praised the number of people who stepped up to help and show their support.
“I’m just very happy he’s home,” Dohse said, thanking all who turned out to help.
The police department also thanked local authorities as well and volunteers, including Dohse and Find-911, who put in “countless hours” assisting in the search for Kelsey.
“While this is not the outcome anyone hoped for, it is our hope that this brings some measure of closure to David’s family and loved ones,” said the Cody Police Department.
Kelsey’s wife, Heather Goldsby, described him in an earlier interview as a very loving, family-oriented man with a tight group of close friends who enjoys staying close to home.
Police investigators are working with the Park County Coroner’s Office to determine a cause of death, the CPD reports.
Jen Kocher can be reached at jen@cowboystatedaily.com.
