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Missing man presumed found On Thursday, May 3, a RCMP member from the Pelican Narrows detachment found the truck belonging to James Joseph Gallagher, 71, who was reported missing Nov. 4, 2011. A body was also found in the truck, which will be sent to Saskatoon for an autopsy on Tuesday, May 8 for positive identification, according to an RCMP news release dated May 6, 2012.
An off-duty RCMP officer found a fender flare from a vehicle on the water’s edge of McLurg Lake on Highway #135 approximately 20 km south of Pelican Narrows.
Members of the Pelican Narrows RCMP and Saskatchewan conservation officers searched the area with a 14 ft. boat and underwater camera finding a vehicle in approximately 3.9 metres (approximately 12 ft.) of water. They also believed there was an occupant in the cab of the submerged truck.
Members of the RCMP Underwater Recovery Team arrived at the site on Sunday, May 6 to assist with the investigation.
The RCMP now confirm the truck is the red Ford Ranger belonging to James Joseph Gallagher of White Fox, who went missing on Nov. 1, 2011 on a trip to Sylvannia, Sask., a community south of Tisdale.
Family members arrived at the scene. “Members of the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nations have been offering emotional support to the family members at the scene.”
Gallagher had a severe speech impediment and could neither read nor write. He could write his name, which he did to sign cheques on his return trip, which took him to Overflowing River, Man. where he had a flat tire, Mafeking, Thompson and Cranberry Portage, where he purchased gas.
Gallagher was also seen in Lynn Lake, Man. and may have been seen on Highway #102 approximately 68 km north of La Ronge.
He was reportedly last seen at the junction of Highways #106 and #167 near Creighton. The investigation into Gallagher’s disappearance continues.
Valerie G. Barnes-Connell
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