Friday, November 16, 2012

Police investigate death in Hailey

Body of 51-year-old man found in downtown apartment


By TERRY SMITH
Express Staff Writer

Blaine County Coroner Russell Mikel, center, prepares to leave the scene after responding to a reported fatality early Wednesday evening in downtown Hailey. The cause of death of a 51-year-old Hailey man remains unknown, pending results of an autopsy scheduled to be conducted today in Boise. Photo by Roland Lane

Hailey police are investigating the death of a 51-year-old man, whose body was found early Wednesday evening in his apartment in downtown Hailey.

“It appears to be an accidental death and it does not appear to be a homicide,” Assistant Police Chief Dave Stellers said Thursday. However, Stellers noted that the death remains under investigation while police are “awaiting autopsy results.”

Blaine County Coroner Russell Mikel identified the man as Lance S. Buterbaugh.

“The cause of death is under investigation because we don’t have an answer yet,” Mikel said Thursday. “He died yesterday afternoon. We’re still trying to establish a time. It will be an ongoing thing until we get it figured out.”

Mikel said an autopsy is scheduled to be conducted today, Nov. 16.

Police were called to the man’s home at 5 E. Bullion St., Apt. 1, about 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 14. The apartment is situated on the upper level of a commercial building at the corner of Main and Bullion streets.

“We got a call from the guy’s employer who went to check on him and he was deceased,” Stellers said.

Wood River Fire & Rescue dispatched an ambulance to the scene but it was withdrawn shortly afterwards when it was determined the man was dead.

Instead, the body was taken by Mikel to the Wood River Chapel mortuary in Hailey.

The autopsy is being performed by the Ada County Coroner’s Office in Boise.

Terry Smith: tsmith@mtexpress.com




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