The Blaine County Coroner's Office reported that a Blaine County resident whose body was found Thursday morning on the west side of Magic Reservoir most likely died from drowning.
Coroner Russell Mikel identified the victim as 49-year-old Colen Pierson. Mikel said it was not known Thursday afternoon whether an autopsy would be conducted.
Mikel said Pierson was found by Blaine County sheriff's officers on a bank of the reservoir near West Magic Resort in southern Blaine County. Mikel said he was notified at 8:50 a.m. but did not know when the body was first discovered.
He said sheriff's officers began looking for Pierson on Wednesday after it was reported to them that he was missing and was possibly last seen or heard from on Sunday.
Mikel said it appears that Pierson was fishing from a small boat that overturned.
"His boat apparently capsized," Mikel said. "He had a life jacket on but was wearing heavy clothing."
Mikel said the boat was found floating near where Pierson's body was discovered.
He said the water temperature Thursday in the reservoir was about 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
Additional information was not available from the sheriff's office by press deadline Thursday.
Terry Smith: tsmith@mtexpress.com