Bones may belong to drowned boy

Flathead County officials have a theory about bones in a sock that were caught last week by a startled fisherman on Whitefish Lake.

Detective Pat Walsh of the Flathead County Sheriff's Office suspects the bones may belong to a boy who drowned in 1972 near Mackinaw Point.

David Almos and Jay Richardson reportedly drowned together in the summer of 1972.

Richardson's body was recovered almost immediately, but divers and other searchers were unable to find the remains of Almos.

In 1982, a shoe, sock and bones were found in the lake, Walsh said. He believes those came from Almos.

Last week's discovery came "at the same depth, in the same spot as the other shoe," Walsh said. Both were found in an area of the lake that is about 60 feet deep.

"Divers went down in the '80s," Walsh said. A thick layer of muck at the bottom of the lake hampered searchers, who only kicked up debris that made it impossible to see, he said.

Walsh believes that Almos' remains may be buried in the muck.

Divers plan to return to the lake this week hoping for better luck.