Authorities have identified the man as 71-year-old Stanley Littleboy of Billings.
Yellowstone County Sheriff Mike Linder said Thursday in a news release that initial reports indicate the death is consistent with exposure, but the exact cause of death won't be determined until toxicology reports are returned from the state lab, which could take several weeks.
Investigators are still hoping to talk with anyone who may have more information about Littleboy, Linder said.
(1st REPORT, FEBRUARY 21, 2024) Yellowstone County Sheriff Mike Linder said authorities have a tentative identification of a body that was found in a ditch on Billings South Side on Tuesday, but are awaiting autopsy results for a positive identification.
- Recent Obituaries | A Waiting Child
- New restaurant opens in Choteau
- Overnight shooting in Great Falls
- Driver dies in Cascade County crash
He also said the body appeared to have been in the spot for several days behind a business on the 1300 block of Minnesota Avenue, which is near the Public Auction Yards.
Here's the full text of the news release from Linder:
Shortly before 2:00 this afternoon, Deputies and EMS were dispatched to an area behind a business in the 1300 block of Minnesota for a reported sick or injured, or possibly deceased adult male in a ditch. Responders arrived and located the man, who was determined to be deceased. Although partially in the shallow water, the subject was not submerged.
At this time there is no indication of the cause of death or how long the body had been there, but it appears he may have been there for several days. The body was transported to the Morgue in Billings where an autopsy will be performed in the near future. We do have a tentative ID on the victim, but a positive identification will be released after the autopsy.
The Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office Detective Division is investigating this incident. No further information is being released at this time.
Anyone who may have information regarding a missing person (adult male, slender build, possibly in his 60s) from our area, or any other information possibly related to this incident, is asked to contact that Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office at 406-256-2929.
We will update you if we get more information.
(1st REPORT, FEBRUARY 20) Yellowstone County Sheriff's deputies are investigating a report of a body found Tuesday afternoon in a ditch near the Public Auction Yards at 1802 Minnesota Ave. in Billings.
Sheriff Mike Linder told MTN News the body was male but had few other details.
The body was recovered after 3 p.m., and an autopsy is planned to determine whether foul play is involved, according to Linder.
We will update you when we get more information.
