Man identified, foul play discounted

Friday, Aug. 21, 1998 | 9:41 a.m.

Sheriff Neil Harris said foul play had been ruled out in the man's death and a preliminary autopsy indicated that arterial blockage had caused a heart attack.

Wilhelm's body was found on Saturday by a family headed from Wendover to Jarbidge. He was in a sleeping bag in the basement of one of the buildings at the old Mineral Hot Springs.

The body was so decomposed detectives were unsure of the cause of death. It was identified through fingerprints.

Harris said detectives originally suspected foul play because tracks showed the body was dragged to the site where it was found, all identification was missing and a handful of dried wildflowers was left at the doorway.

Harris said Wilhelm likely had a traveling companion who took his possessions, covered him with the sleeping bag and left the flowers.

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