Myers found dead in home

SUPERIOR – The Mineral County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed the death of James Myers, a Superior resident involved in a child sex abuse sting in Missoula.

A family member found the former juvenile probation officer’s body in his home earlier this week. According to Mineral County Sheriff Ernie Ornelas, there was no evidence of foul play and the cause of death is under investigation.

“A lot of people are saying [it was] suicide, but we have no evidence of that right now,” said Ornelas.

Myers’ body is currently under investigation by the medical examiner and results are expected to be available later this week. However, Ornelas said he could not give a more accurate time frame of when a cause of death would be confirmed.

According to Ornelas, natural causes may have played a part and investigators are currently looking into all possibilities.

Myers was one of seven people arrested in Missoula in December as part of an operation by the Montana Internet Crimes Against Children taskforce to lure sexual predators into the open. He  responded to an online ad posted by the taskforce posing as a woman who wanted to prostitute a young female relative.

Myers was given the choice between a 12 year old and 15 year old girl with an address to go to. When he arrived at the meeting place, he paid the undercover officer $100 for oral sex from the 12 year old and was taken into custody.

Myers was released from prison on a $50,000 bond. His arraignment in Missoula County District Court was scheduled for Tuesday, January 21.