Montana man found dead in Yellowstone Park

by The Associated Press
| January 27, 2015 8:00 PM

WEST YELLOWSTONE — The body of a Montana man was found along a groomed ski trail in Yellowstone National Park.

Park officials say snowshoers called 911 at around noon on Saturday after spotting what they thought was a body along a trail in the northern part of the park.

Rangers responded to the area, about 8.5 miles east of Mammoth Hot Springs, and located the body of 52-year-old Merik Morgan of Belgrade.

Initial indications are that Morgan died of hypothermia, but his death is still under investigation.

Missing man died of hypothermia

BILLINGS — Officials in Carbon County say a man whose body was found over the weekend died of hypothermia.

Sheriff Josh McQuillan said an autopsy completed Monday determined that 34-year-old Michael Phillips likely died shortly after he was last seen at 4 a.m. on Jan. 9.

A dog team found his body at noon Saturday east of Joliet, near the bank of Rock Creek. He was last seen walking about a quarter mile from that spot after leaving a party.