North Fork human remains identified

Flathead County Sheriff Brian Heino said the human remains found up the North Fork near Teepee Lake have been positively identified as Jared Lee McManus, 47 of Kalispell.

McManus was found after a search on July 12 by Flathead County Sheriff’s Deputies.

He had been missing since around the Fourth of July, neighbors said.

McManus’s truck was found at the end of the road. The Sheriff Department then used dogs to find the body, they said.

Heino said the cause of death was a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

McManus remains had to be taken to the state Crime Lab for positive identification using DNA analysis because the body had been scavenged by a bear.

After consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, FWP decided to not take any action against the bear.