Human skeletal remains discovered in the St. Joe River in Idaho have been identified as Chantal Williams, a 24-year-old mother of two from Deer Park, Washington, who was reported missing in December. The identification was confirmed by the Spokane Medical Examiner.
Williams was last seen on December 13 near Marble Creek in Idaho. Her car was later found on St. Joe River Road. The Shoshone County Sheriff's Office initiated a search for Williams shortly after her disappearance, utilizing dive teams, canine units, and drones. However, the search was called off on December 18 due to the exhaustion of available resources.
A kayaker discovered the remains in a shallow pool of the river on July 5. Initially, the kayaker believed the remains were animal bones, but authorities were called to the scene and determined they were human.
Sheriff Shawn Wehr of Shoshone County stated that while the family had been notified of the recovery, identification was pending the results from the medical examiner. He expressed hope that identifying the remains would provide closure for Williams' family.
Family members indicated that Williams struggled with a mental health illness. Her brother, Dalton Williams, shared that she was a single mother. The Shoshone County Sheriff's OfficeFacebook page noted the family's gratitude for the assistance provided by various agencies during the initial search.