Remains found in mountains may be Utah man

Tuesday, May 4, 1999 | 3:11 a.m.

Three Wendover men hunting for old deer horns on Monday stumbled onto the bones and a deserted vehicle on a sage-covered dirt road about 7 miles north of I-80 and 5 miles west of Pilot Valley Road, Elko County Sheriff Neil Harris said.

The vehicle was registered to Dan Sturgill, Provo, Utah, Harris said.

Provo Detective Bill Nicholls told Elko deputies that Sturgill, 43, had been the subject of a Utah missing person's report since the first week of January 1996.

"After talking to Provo police, we contacted a Mike Sturgill of Provo, who said he is Dan Sturgill's brother," Harris said. "Mike Sturgill told us he had reported his brother missing and feared, at the time, he may have committed suicide, due to depression from losing his job."

An investigation was continuing. A cause of death has not been determined but foul play is not suspected, Harris said.

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