Hypothermia Cause of Mathers’ Death

Hypothermia is listed as cause of death for Powell Tribune reporter Gib Mathers.

Mathers was found in the Elk Fork Creek drainage on Saturday, March 11th two and a quarter miles south of Highway 14-16-20. His body was found lying in a small clearing 20 feet from the creek.

Park County Coroner Tim Power performed an autopsy yesterday, and has ruled that Mathers died from hypothermia.

Mathers had been missing since Tuesday, January 31^st, and countless hours have been spent searching the area since his disappearance was noted on February 3.

Sheriff Scott Steward said that this is by far the most difficult search that their volunteers have ever had to conduct, due to the terrain, winter conditions, and continual bad weather, along with the fact that they had no idea which direction he may have traveled.