Man's body found Thursday at Magic Reservoir, Blaine County.  Coroner's office reported that a Blaine County resident whose body was found Thursday morning (5/27) on the west side of Magic Reservoir most likely died from drowning.  Coroner identified the victim as a 49-year old man.  It was not know Thursday afternoon whether an autopsy would be conducted.  The victim was found by Blaine County sheriff's officers on a bank of the reservoir near West Magic Resort in souther Blaine County.  The coronor was notified at 8:50 am but did not know when the body was first discovered.  He said sheriff's officers began looking for the victim on Wednesday (5/26) after it was reported to them that he was missing and was possibly last seen or heard from on Sunday (5/23).  The coronor reported that it appears that the victim was fishing from a small boat that overturned.  His boat apparently capsized.  He had a life jacket on but was wearing heavy clothing.  The boat was found floating near where the victims body was discovered.

Investigator's Report:
49 year old male was fishing alone in a 12-foot aluminum v-hull vessel on May 23rd, 2010.  He disembarked at approximately 1900 hours from the west side of Magic Reservoir.  He reported missing to the Blaine County Sheriff's office on May 26, 2010 at approximately 2000 hours.  He was found deceased on the west shoreline on May 27, 2010 at 0745 hours.  For an unknown reason, victim ended up in the water, probably near the west shoreline.  Victim was partially wearing a type III personal floatation device.  It appeared he either attempted to put PFD on once in the water, or had it on but not secured properly.  The reservoir level had been dropping due to irrigation demand and it is believed that the dropping water levels left his body beached.  The vessel was found on the east side of the reservoir.  It was capsized and appears to have been blown over to the location by the prevailing winds.  The vessel was damaged from being slammed against the rocky shoreline by wind and waves.  It is unknown for certain what had transpired, but it is likely that the victim may have stood up in the vessel and fell overboard or the vessel capsized from weather and he ended up in the water.  It is likely he struggled to get to the west shoreline and succumbed to drowning, hypothermia, or exhaustion.

Bellevue                      