Missing Koocanusa cliff jumper found dead

A missing Lincoln County man was found dead in Lake Koocanusa on Wednesday evening.

Lincoln County Sheriff Darren Short said a swimmer spotted the body of 47-year-old Johnathan Orr at about 5:30 p.m., July 19.

Authorities began searching for Orr after he dove from a 90-foot cliff into Koocanusa Reservoir on Sunday evening.

Short said searchers used a remote-operated vehicle before the swimmer found Orr.

According to a press release from the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office, Orr jumped from the cliff near Pinkham Creek into the reservoir and never resurfaced.

After a 911 call was made at about 8 p.m., July 16, Eureka Dispatch sent county deputies and Eureka-based Can-Am Search and Rescue to the scene.

When they arrived, deputies were told that Orr had been sitting near the water watching others jump from the cliff. Orr swam across the inlet and climbed the cliff to the top, approximately 90 feet above the water, and then jumped.

One of the men who watched the jump immediately swam to the area of impact and unsuccessfully searched for Orr, according to the press release.

Can-Am Search and Rescue arrived with two boats and two jet skis and searched the area until dark but did not see Orr. The search resumed Monday morning and continued throughout the day including divers and boats, but efforts proved unsuccessful.

On Tuesday, canines from David Thompson Search and Rescue and Can-Am responded in an attempt to locate Orr. Additional divers from Flathead Search and Rescue along with a remote-operated vehicle searched an area indicated by the canines but were also unsuccessful.